American Express has introduced the Intent Intelligence Framework, a new system designed to verify customer purchase intent before an AI agent completes a transaction. The company aims for this framework to become an industry standard for AI-powered commerce.
The process begins with the Create Intent API, which captures user instructions, such as budget and product preferences. The system then generates a unique Intent ID and a Proof of Intent Token. This token allows the agent to use a secure digital payment credential instead of the actual credit card number.
This initiative is part of the ACE Developer Toolkit, which Amex launched in April. According to the company, the framework helps mitigate risks by identifying discrepancies between user instructions and agent actions, such as incorrect product choices, before the transaction is finalized.
While Amex has not reported an increase in disputes related to AI agents, it is proactively developing these tools as consumer interest grows. A recent Amex Trendex report indicates that 66% of surveyed U.S. consumers are likely to use AI agents for price research, and 61% for product recommendations.
