Amsterdam · November 3rd, 2026
Adyen Research Finds 72% of Young Shoppers Trust AI to Buy on Their Behalf, but Big-Ticket Purchases Lag
Only 21% of shoppers over 70 are comfortable letting an AI assistant buy items on their behalf, compared to the 72% of twenty-somethings driving the trend
Standard groceries (22%), household essentials (22%), and takeout (20%) top the list of AI-approved purchases for global shoppers
Trust drops sharply for big-ticket items, with only 13% willing to let AI book flights or holidays, and just 7.5% comfortable automating luxury purchases
Adyen, the global financial technology platform of choice for leading businesses, today published new consumer research examining how global shopping behaviors have evolved, and where commerce is headed next. The study benchmarks shifting expectations across the retail landscape. A major highlight is the rise of agentic commerce. As AI evolves into an automated buyer, consumers are increasingly open to delegating routine, low-risk purchases, while retaining manual control over higher-value transactions.
Outsourcing the Essentials
The research shows that shoppers are most comfortable using AI to handle routine errands. Across all age groups, standard weekly groceries (22%) and household essentials like laundry detergent (22%) are the top categories shoppers would allow an AI assistant to purchase automatically, without seeking prior approval. This is followed closely by regular takeout food orders (20%) and routine pet supplies (16%).
Drawing the Line at Luxury
Trust in AI drops significantly as the stakes, and price tags, rise. Globally, only 13% of shoppers are comfortable letting AI book flights, hotels, or holidays, and just 7.5% would allow automatic purchases of luxury goods. Yet, younger shoppers remain the early adopters even in high-value categories: nearly 1 in 5 (19%) twenty-somethings are happy to let an assistant book their travel, and 14% would trust AI to automatically buy designer apparel and homeware.
The Generational Divide
The appetite for automated spending reveals an extreme generational gap. While nearly 72% of shoppers over 70 refuse to let AI buy on their behalf, digital-native demographics are actively embracing the shift. Among 20-29 year olds, 30% are ready to automate their grocery shopping, 30% are comfortable automating household essentials, and 28% trust AI assistants to order their takeout.
"Consumers are starting to treat AI as a digital personal assistant, but trust must be built from the ground up,”commented Karan Katyal, Global Head of Agentic Commerce at Adyen. “For enterprises, seamless payment infrastructure is key to capturing agentic commerce as that trust grows."
Notes to Editors
The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 11,000 Nat Rep Consumers globally (aged 16+).
Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of the British Polling Council.
About Adyen
Adyen (AMS: ADYEN) is the financial technology platform of choice for leading companies. By providing end-to-end payments capabilities, data-driven insights, and financial products in a single global solution, Adyen helps businesses achieve their ambitions faster. With offices around the world, Adyen works with the likes of Meta, Uber, H&M, eBay, and Microsoft.