The U.S. Payments Forum has published a new white paper, “Contextual Payments Considering Artificial Intelligence, 5G, and Internet of Things,” highlighting how AI, 5G, and IoT are converging to transform the future of commerce and payments. The resource explores how contextual payments—transactions that occur seamlessly without traditional checkout steps—are becoming a foundation for agentic commerce, where AI agents purchase on behalf of consumers.
Quick Intel
U.S. Payments Forum releases white paper on contextual payments powered by AI, 5G, and IoT.
Contextual payments allow seamless transactions without traditional checkout.
AI “agents” are expected to unlock $240B in new retail revenue annually.
Use cases span retail, mobility, smart homes, healthcare, and entertainment.
White paper addresses consumer trust, compliance, interoperability, and costs.
Developed by the Forum’s Mobile and Touchless Payments Working Committee.
Contextual payments leverage stored credentials, contextual triggers, and prior consumer consent to enable automatic transactions. This approach supports agent-driven commerce, where AI anticipates consumer needs and acts on their behalf. Analysts project this could raise global e-commerce conversions by 1.5–2.5% per year, equating to more than $240 billion in incremental retail revenue.
The Forum’s paper outlines how these technologies create the infrastructure for contextual payments across industries:
AI enables decision-making and personalization.
5G provides low-latency, high-speed connectivity.
IoT connects devices that can transact autonomously.
Use cases include connected cars paying tolls automatically, IoT devices reordering supplies, and smart home appliances conducting transactions without manual input.
The paper also emphasizes:
The importance of consumer control and identity management.
Regulatory compliance as a foundation for trust.
Implications for merchants, issuers, and processors in interoperability and infrastructure readiness.
The potential role of programmable money (stablecoins) and smart contracts in enabling seamless multi-party transactions.
Christina Hulka, executive director of the Secure Technology Alliance, said:
“People often lead fast-paced lives, and they are looking for ways to speed up day-to-day commerce. Contextual payments address this by shifting the act of paying from the consumer to the infrastructure. We’d like this resource to show payments stakeholders how combining AI, 5G, and IoT can deliver transactions that are faster, more secure, and more aligned with how people live and work.”
The paper was created by the Mobile and Touchless Payments Working Committee. The Forum invites organizations, associations, and individuals to join upcoming initiatives through the Secure Technology Alliance and gain access to broader collaboration opportunities.
About the U.S. Payments Forum
The U.S. Payments Forum is a cross-industry body that brings stakeholders together on neutral ground to enable efficient, timely, and effective implementation of emerging and existing payment technologies. This is achieved through education, guidance, and alternative adoption paths. The Forum is the only non-profit organization representing the entire payments ecosystem, ensuring every stakeholder has a voice in shaping the future of payments. The Forum operates within the Secure Technology Alliance.
About the Secure Technology Alliance
The Secure Technology Alliance is the digital security industry’s premier association. Through its U.S. Payments Forum, Identity and Access Forum, and collaborative working groups, the Alliance fosters open dialogue on secure technology innovations across payments, identity, and access markets. By promoting education and guidance, it enables efficient and effective implementation of disruptive technologies. For more information, visit www.securetechalliance.org.
TechIntelPro empowers B2B technology decision-makers with the latest industry trends, deep insights, leadership perspectives and actionable intelligence to drive both organizational and professional milestones—and thrive on the tech pulse.