COLUMBUS, Ohio—Klarna is deepening its collaboration with Google to help launch the new Agent Payments Protocol (AP2)—an open standard aimed at enabling secure, AI-powered payments. The move expands on the companies’ existing integrations and underscores their shared push toward smarter, automated commerce experiences, PYMNTS said.
PYMNTS explained that AP2 establishes a shared framework for how agents can safely initiate and complete transactions on behalf of users. It defines how authorization, identity verification and tracking should function when an artificial intelligence assistant, chatbot or automated workflow carries out a purchase, ensuring each transaction remains consistent and auditable across platforms.
Google created the Agent Payments Protocol (AP2) to advance AI-driven commerce—where digital agents can go beyond product recommendations to securely complete purchases with user-approved permissions. According to PYMNTS, AP2 is an open, cross-industry standard built to support multiple payment methods and providers. Klarna said it is helping pilot and operationalize the framework in real-world settings, converting agent-initiated payment requests into verified transactions, PYMNTS said.
“Agent-led commerce represents an exciting new frontier, one that demands transparency, trust, and smarter payment experiences,” Klarna Chief Commercial Officer David Sykes said in the announcement. “We’re doubling down on our long-standing relationship with Google to support their work with AP2 and help define an open, responsible payments architecture for the future of shopping.”