Nexi teams with Google Cloud to enable AI agent payments

By Vriti Gothi

Nexi Group and Google Cloud have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop infrastructure supporting so-called “agentic commerce” across Europe, a model in which AI agents autonomously manage shopping journeys and execute payments on behalf of consumers under explicit authorisation.

The collaboration combines Google Cloud’s AI and data capabilities with Nexi’s European acquiring network and payments expertise. Alongside enabling AI-driven transactions, Nexi plans to use Google Cloud technologies to enhance operational efficiency, including improvements to fraud detection, compliance automation and merchant onboarding.

The partnership reflects a broader industry shift towards embedding artificial intelligence deeper into digital commerce flows. As conversational interfaces and AI assistants increasingly influence purchase decisions, payment providers are seeking to ensure that transaction infrastructure can support secure, machine-initiated payments within existing regulatory frameworks.

Under the MoU, Nexi has committed to supporting open-source commerce standards, including the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) and the Agent Payments Protocol (AP2). The companies said UCP would be used to orchestrate the AI-enabled commerce lifecycle, while AP2 would function as a trust layer for transactions, enabling AI agents to execute authorised payments using cryptographically signed mandates and verifiable credentials.

“We are entering an era where AI agents will increasingly orchestrate commerce on behalf of consumers, making it imperative for merchants to provide seamless, autonomous transaction experiences,” said Roberto Catanzaro, Chief Business Officer, Merchant Solutions at Nexi. “By endorsing the UCP and AP2 protocols alongside other leading payments and technology companies, we will help shape the European ecosystem for this transformational shift. To reach this objective, we will leverage our deep understanding of European requirements, leadership position in the eCommerce mid-market, and large network of partners including local platforms and ISVs.”

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

For the European payments sector, the initiative signals a move towards standardised frameworks for AI-mediated transactions, at a time when regulators and market participants are assessing how to balance innovation with security and consumer protection. If adopted at scale, agentic commerce could redefine the interaction between search, recommendation and payment, compressing the journey from digital intent to completed transaction.