Adyen, the global financial technology platform of choice for leading businesses, today published new consumer research examining how global shopping behaviors have evolved over the past 20 years, and where commerce is headed next. Marking the company’s 20th year of solving payment complexity, the study benchmarks shifting expectations across the retail landscape. A major highlight is the rise of agentic commerce. As AI evolves into an automated buyer, consumers are increasingly open to delegating routine, low-risk purchases, while retaining manual control over higher-value transactions.Outsourcing the EssentialsThe research shows that shoppers are most comfortable using AI to handle routine errands. Across all age groups, standard weekly groceries (18%) and household essentials like laundry detergent (15%) are the top categories shoppers would allow an AI assistant to purchase automatically, without seeking prior approval. This is followed closely by regular takeout food orders (17%) and routine pet supplies (15%).Drawing the Line at LuxuryTrust in AI drops significantly as the stakes, and price tags, rise. In the UK, only 12% of shoppers are comfortable letting AI book flights, hotels, or holidays, and just 9% would allow automatic purchases of luxury goods.Yet, younger shoppers remain the early adopters even in high-value categories: more than 1 in 5 (23%) twenty-somethings are happy to let an assistant book their travel, and 18% would trust AI to automatically buy designer apparel and homeware.The Generational DivideThe appetite for automated spending reveals an extreme generational gap. While nearly 74% of shoppers over 70 refuse to let AI buy on their behalf, digital-native demographics are actively embracing the shift. Among 20-29 year olds, 25% are ready to automate their grocery shopping, 23% are comfortable automating household essentials, and 24% trust AI assistants to order their takeout."Over the last twenty years, we've helped merchants navigate every major shift in commerce," commented Karan Katyal, Global Head of Agentic Commerce at Adyen. "Consumers are starting to treat AI as a digital personal assistant, but trust must be built from the ground up. For enterprises, seamless payment infrastructure is key to capturing agentic commerce as that trust grows."NoYesArtificial Intelligence11 Nov, 2026