Nexi collaborates with Google Cloud to enable AI agent payments

Written by Vriti Goshi

Nexi Group and Google Cloud have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop infrastructure to support so-called “agent commerce” across Europe. In this model, an AI agent autonomously manages the shopping journey and makes payments on behalf of the consumer with explicit authorization.

The partnership combines Google Cloud’s AI and data capabilities with Nexi’s European acquisition network and payments expertise. In addition to enabling AI-driven transactions, Nexi plans to use Google Cloud technology to improve operational efficiencies such as fraud detection, compliance automation, and merchant onboarding.

The partnership reflects a broader industry shift toward deeply embedding artificial intelligence into digital commerce flows. As conversational interfaces and AI assistants increasingly influence purchasing decisions, payment providers are working to ensure their transaction infrastructure supports secure machine payments within existing regulatory frameworks.

Under this MoU, Nexi committed to supporting open source commerce standards such as Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) and Agent Payments Protocol (AP2). The companies said UCP will be used to orchestrate the AI-enabled commerce lifecycle, and AP2 will act as a trust layer for transactions, allowing AI agents to execute authorized payments using cryptographically signed powers of attorney and verifiable credentials.

“We are entering an era where AI agents increasingly orchestrate commercial transactions on behalf of consumers, making it imperative for merchants to provide a seamless and autonomous transaction experience,” he said. Roberto Catanzaro, Chief Business Officer, Nexi Merchant Solutions. “By endorsing the UCP and AP2 protocols alongside other leading payments and technology companies, we are helping shape the European ecosystem for this transformational change. To achieve this goal, we will leverage our deep understanding of European requirements, our leadership position in the e-commerce middle market, and our large partner network, including local platforms and ISVs.”

Beyond customer-facing use cases, the agreement also covers operational modernization. Nexi plans to apply Google Cloud’s AI and analytics tools to enhance internal real-time fraud detection, automate compliance processes, and build a more scalable operational backbone. The companies will also explore ways to expand access to Nexi’s payment services for independent software vendors through Google Cloud infrastructure.

For Europe’s payments sector, the initiative signals a move towards a standardized framework for AI-mediated transactions as regulators and market participants assess how to balance innovation with security and consumer protection. When deployed at scale, agenttic commerce has the potential to redefine interactions between search, recommendations, and payments, compressing the process from digital intent to transaction completion.