AI Agents Set to Revolutionize Travel Shopping

The rise of artificial intelligence in travel is entering a new phase, with “agentic commerce” now positioned to reshape how travelers make purchases. A surge in announcements from Google, Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal, alongside ChatGPT’s recent updates, signals a major shift in digital shopping—and travel bookings are next in line.

Agentic commerce refers to autonomous AI agents capable of making purchases on behalf of users without direct human involvement. Google recently previewed its agentic checkout function, which will allow its AI tools to handle transactions via Google Pay, complete with real-time price tracking. Payment giants Mastercard, Visa, and PayPal have simultaneously launched their own agent toolkits, setting the stage for widespread adoption of AI-driven shopping.

This technology has the potential to bypass traditional checkout experiences and disrupt online travel agencies as we know them. Experts suggest OTAs could lose relevance as AI agents take over search, decision-making, and bookings in one seamless flow. Industry leaders see a future where consumers interact with AI through voice or wearable tech, like Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses, to book a train ticket or hotel without pulling out a phone.

Key players like Sabre and Stripe are racing to support this future. Sabre is working on tools to let AI agents browse, book, and manage payments, while Stripe introduced its own AI foundation model for payments. Stripe’s James Lemon predicts the emergence of countless new booking channels as AI-powered commerce goes mainstream.

Still, travel faces hurdles. Many suppliers operate legacy systems that can’t yet support real-time, agent-led payments. Fraud is also a concern. For agentic AI to gain trust, it must securely store users’ payment preferences, digital IDs, and permissions, ensuring transactions don’t go astray.

While early use cases are still limited, Mastercard’s Sherri Haymond believes the technology will democratize online commerce, enabling merchants of all sizes to benefit. As AI agents mature from supportive tools to proactive transaction managers, the travel industry must accelerate adoption to stay competitive.

With travelers expected to form brand-like loyalty to specific AI assistants, companies will need to ensure compatibility across multiple platforms like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and DeepSeek. The window for adaptation is closing quickly. What once seemed theoretical is becoming actionable—and travel businesses that hesitate may find themselves outpaced by AI’s accelerating advance.

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AI Agents Set to Revolutionize Travel Shopping

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