Four in ten UK consumers say they are ready to let AI take over routine purchases like groceries and household bills, shows a recent report released today (Oct 29).
A global study released today, ‘Peak Season '25: The debut of agentic commerce?’, by Checkout.com, highlights the consumer buying behaviour which is powering today’s digital economy.
The research, conducted with 4000 consumers across the UK and US reveals a number of trends, including a growing appetite to hand over buying and purchasing power to ‘agentic AI’ - systems that can independently search, compare, and buy on behalf of shoppers.
The survey showed that UK consumers are preparing to hand over more of their shopping decisions to agentic AI, with 40 per cent saying that they would be comfortable letting agentic AI take charge of everyday purchases they consider to be “boring” like groceries, phone bills, or household goods.
On average, those willing to let AI transact on their behalf said they would do so up to a value of around £200 – revealing an emerging “trust threshold” for agentic commerce.
That appetite builds on habits already forming today. Many Brits are already turning to AI for shopping inspiration – 42 per cent say they’ve used it to find gift ideas for a partner, while one in five (20%) have even asked AI to write birthday card messages.
Yet while people are happy to use AI to seek inspiration for gifts, they’re less comfortable handing over full control to an agent.
Four in ten (40 per cent) respondents say letting agentic AI handle gifting feels “too impersonal” for gifts or special occasions, suggesting consumers want the technology to serve as a helper rather than a substitute for moments of choice and care.
These findings could point to a pivotal moment for UK commerce, as agentic AI has the potential to take the inconvenience out of everyday shopping, while preserving consumer choice for more personal, or enjoyable, purchases.
The data also points to a generational shift already underway. Nearly seven in ten (70 per cent) of 25–34 year olds say they would be happy to let AI agents handle transactions. Among this group, almost half (49 per cent) report already using AI to support shopping decisions, from finding deals to comparing reviews.
However, fraud and security remain the biggest barriers. Four in ten (40 per cent) shoppers worry about the risk of fraud or data misuse if autonomous agents start spending for them, and many say their willingness would depend on stronger protections such as guaranteed security (31 per cent) or easier refunds and returns (30 per cent).
After recent, high profile data breaches, the research shows that trust will be the key to AI adoption, states the study.
“Consumers are drawing a clear boundary: they want agentic AI to take away the friction of everyday purchases, but still make the choices that matter most to them,” said Rory O’Neill, CMO at Checkout.com.
“As merchants shape their agentic commerce strategies, ensuring shoppers continue to enjoy the experience will be key to success. It’s not one-size-fits-all – the best strategies will blend automation with the human touch that keeps commerce personal.”
“The idea of AI running your shopping might sound futuristic, but consumers are already halfway there – they just need reassurance it’s safe,” said Jenny Hadlow, COO at Checkout.com.
“Nearly half (48 per cent) worry about losing control over what’s purchased through agentic AI, so merchants must balance convenience with security. Features like spending limits or category filters could give shoppers confidence as agentic commerce becomes reality.”
Read the full report ‘Peak Season ‘25: The debut of agentic commerce’ here.