American Express Launches AI Purchase Framework to Block Unauthorized Agent Transactions
American Express unveils an Intent Intelligence Framework to authenticate AI agent purchases, enforce customer limits, and strengthen fraud and dispute checks.
Summary
American Express introduced its Intent Intelligence Framework on October 13, 2026, to capture and authenticate customer instructions before AI agents complete purchases, preserving those instructions throughout the transaction lifecycle. Amex wants the framework, now part of its ACE Developer Toolkit launched in April, to become an industry standard. Hannah Bozian, vice president of Agentic Partnerships and Strategy, said Amex has not seen agentic commerce increase disputes but is preparing for wider adoption. An Amex Trendex survey found 66% of U.S. consumers were likely to use AI agents for price research and 61% for recommendations within 12 months.
The Create Intent API records instructions and constraints, including merchant, maximum budget and product preferences, although collection may vary by AI model. After the customer authenticates their identity and approves the captured intent, Amex creates an Intent ID and Proof of Intent Token containing high level constraints. The token obtains a secure digital payment credential for checkout, replacing the actual card number. The ID and token can also support fraud prevention, dispute resolution and records of which agent received authorization and when.
Amex says capturing intent early could block mistakes, such as an agent ordering Adidas shoes after authorization for white Nike sneakers in size 9. The controls could become more important as agents autonomously reorder staples under price and size limits. Amex is discussing ACE implementation, including agentic tokens carrying its payment credentials, with payments partners and plans continued development as agentic commerce evolves.
Positives
- 66% of surveyed U.S. consumers were likely to use AI agents for price research within 12 months.
- The Create Intent API records merchant, budget and product constraints before an AI agent reaches checkout.
- Proof of Intent Tokens unlock secure payment credentials without exposing customers’ actual card numbers.
- Intent IDs can support fraud prevention, dispute resolution and records of each agent’s authorization.
- Amex is discussing ACE implementation with partners across the payments ecosystem.
Risks & concerns
- Large language models are nondeterministic, creating a risk that AI agents make purchases customers did not authorize.
- Intent collection may vary by AI model, while Amex’s goal of supporting every agentic commerce model remains under development.
- More autonomous agents may reorder goods without individual purchase approvals, increasing the importance of reliable constraint checks.
- Amex has not yet seen agentic commerce increase disputes, leaving the framework’s effectiveness at greater scale unproven.