Amex details framework to keep AI purchases within customer permissions

American Express has detailed Intent Intelligence, a framework designed to keep purchases by AI agents within customer-approved boundaries. The company said the system carries authenticated shopping instructions through the payment process to help reduce errors and disputes.

Customers can specify conditions such as a spending ceiling, preferred merchant and expiration date. After confirming those instructions and verifying their identity, the system generates an Intent ID and a Proof of Intent Token. That token can obtain a payment credential restricted by the approved conditions.

The approach addresses risks that arise when software interprets instructions or changes a shopping cart after approval. It also supports updating or canceling an authenticated purchase instruction. Intent Intelligence was already listed among the capabilities in the company’s ACE developer kit, announced April 14.,

Amex has also announced plans to protect eligible customers against charges caused by errors from registered shopping agents. That planned protection depends on the agent supplying the customer’s authenticated purchase instructions.