Amex unveils a framework to stop AI agents from making unauthorized purchases
The Intent Intelligence Framework captures and checks a customer's purchase instructions before an agent completes a transaction.
Policy#07
66%
US consumers likely to use AI agents for price research
Image: TechCrunch
66%US consumers likely to use AI agents for price research
The short version
- American Express is introducing the Intent Intelligence Framework, designed to capture and authenticate a customer's purchase intent before an AI agent completes a transaction.
- The framework begins with a Create Intent API that records the customer's instructions and constraints, such as merchant name, maximum budget, and product preferences.
- The customer authenticates their identity and signs off on the captured intent, and an Intent ID and Proof of Intent Token are created.
- The agent uses a secure digital payment credential at checkout instead of the customer's actual credit card number.
- Amex said it has not yet seen an increase in disputes because of agentic commerce.
Why it matters
AI agents are starting to make payments for users, and the model's nondeterministic behavior can lead to errors. A standard that checks intent before payment could make agent-driven commerce safer for developers building these tools. Amex says the Intent ID can also help with fraud prevention and dispute resolution.
“Our approach differs from the implementations of others in that it pulls intent earlier into the transaction flow.”