Global Payments has published research showing that most consumers in Singapore would not let an AI agent complete a purchase without their approval. Only 15% said they would allow a fully autonomous purchase.

The findings highlight a gap between interest in agentic commerce and willingness to hand over payment decisions. Fifty-nine per cent of respondents in Singapore said they were open to an AI agent taking part in their shopping, while 23% said they had already used one.

Singapore ranked ahead of the US and UK on openness to AI shopping agents in the survey, trailing only China and Brazil among the seven markets covered. But that openness dropped sharply when respondents were asked whether an agent could complete a transaction on its own. Sixty-five per cent said they wanted to approve every purchase individually, while 20% said they would not allow autonomous purchasing at all.

The findings come as Asia Pacific accounts for more than 60% of global online retail sales, making consumer confidence in AI-led transactions a key issue for merchants and payment groups in the region.

The research suggests consumers in Singapore want oversight built into AI shopping tools rather than a hands-off model. The strongest demand was for visible checks before money is spent.

Singapore recorded the highest demand in the survey for government-backed AI safety certification, at 34%. It also showed one of the strongest expectations for a confirmation step before each purchase, at 39%.

Respondents in Singapore were also more likely than the global average to want a phone push notification before an AI-driven purchase and biometric sign-off to confirm it.

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