Ant group's CEO predicts intelligent agent commerce is now in full swing

At the 2026 Inclusion · Bund Conference in Shanghai, Zhao Xin Yi, CEO of Ant Group, declared that the 'ChatGPT moment' for intelligent agent commerce has arrived. He emphasized that intelligent agents are transitioning from showcasing capabilities to facilitating real transactions, becoming new commercial entry points that understand user needs and drive completions. Zhao noted that user behavior has shifted, with people increasingly entrusting their real-life needs to intelligent agents. He highlighted AI Alipay's 'Abao' entering public beta testing this June, allowing users to handle tasks and place orders with simple commands. Zhao also predicted that intelligent agent commerce would explode within 6-12 months, a forecast he made at the Alipay AI ecosystem conference on August 17. Data from Ant Group's AI Payment indicates that natural new interactive payments could surpass 50% in the next five years. Zhao outlined three fundamental questions the industry must answer to advance intelligent agent commerce: how services can be understood and called by agents, whether agents can help complete transactions, and who should authorize, manage risks, and bear responsibility. He stressed the need for new 'highway facilities' like trustworthy identities, clear authorization, and risk control. Alipay has launched a 10 million yuan development fund for life intelligent agent developers, with annual rewards up to 1 million yuan. Zhao concluded that AI payment serves as a trusted commitment engine, ensuring the entire process is authorized, manageable, and traceable.