How Does an AI Agent Actually Buy Something? Google Just Published the Spec.
Google has introduced the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), which allows AI agents to complete purchases directly from merchants without human intervention. This protocol enables agents to interact with various online stores programmatically, overcoming the limitations of different checkout APIs. UCP is an open standard co-designed by Google and Shopify, aimed at transforming how AI agents handle online transactions.
- ▪The Universal Commerce Protocol allows AI agents to build carts, handle shipping, and complete transactions directly with merchants.
- ▪UCP is an open-source REST API specification that standardizes how AI agents interact with online stores.
- ▪Merchants maintain control over pricing and fulfillment while the AI agent manages the checkout process.
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