Riskified Report Finds Growing Trust Gap in AI-Driven Commerce Despite Rising Adoption
New York — Riskified has released its Q1 2026 “Agentic Commerce Pulse” report, revealing a widening gap between consumer adoption of AI in shopping and their willingness to trust it with autonomous transactions.
The study, based on responses from consumers in the U.S. and U.K., shows that while AI is becoming deeply embedded in the shopping journey, concerns around fraud, security, and accountability are slowing the shift toward fully agent-driven commerce.
High Adoption, Low Trust
The report highlights strong usage of AI tools in retail experiences:
- 61.5% of consumers have used AI for product discovery and recommendations
- However, 55.0% are uncomfortable allowing AI agents to make purchases on their behalf
- 46.5% say they do not trust any company to manage purchases for them
This marks a notable shift from late 2025, when a majority of consumers expressed at least some comfort with AI-led purchasing—indicating that trust is not keeping pace with adoption.
Rising Concerns Over Fraud and Security
Security has emerged as a central barrier to broader acceptance of agentic commerce:
- 53.9% believe AI could increase online fraud risk
- 73.9% expect strong safeguards such as biometric authentication or one-time passwords
- Consumers are increasingly demanding clear protections at every transaction step
These findings suggest a transition from general concerns about privacy and payments to more defined expectations around fraud prevention and authentication.
Fragmented Platform Preferences
Consumers remain divided on where AI should operate within the shopping ecosystem:
- 31.2% prefer general AI tools such as ChatGPT or Gemini
- 27.0% favor retailer websites or apps
- 24.4% reject both options
This fragmentation highlights an evolving landscape where no single platform has yet established dominance in agentic commerce.
Accountability Becomes a Key Issue
The report also underscores growing expectations around liability in AI-driven transactions:
- 50.8% of consumers believe AI platforms should be responsible for unauthorized purchases
- 23.2% place responsibility on retailers
- Only 18.7% accept personal responsibility
As AI takes a more active role in purchasing decisions, consumers are drawing clearer boundaries around accountability.
Implications for Merchants
“Consumers want the convenience of AI, but they’re not ready to hand over control,” said Jeff Otto. “The gap between adoption and trust is widening.”
For merchants, the findings point to a need for stronger infrastructure around transparency, security, and governance. Enabling AI-powered shopping experiences alone is no longer sufficient—trust must be actively built and maintained.
Navigating the Future of Agentic Commerce
Riskified’s research highlights a critical inflection point for the industry. While AI continues to transform how consumers discover and evaluate products, the transition to autonomous purchasing will depend on addressing trust, security, and accountability concerns.
As agentic commerce evolves, companies that prioritize safe, transparent, and user-controlled experiences are likely to be best positioned to capture long-term consumer confidence.
