Glossary/AI Search & Emerging/Delegated Payment
AI Search & Emerging
Delegated Payment
Passing a limited, single-purpose payment token through an AI agent so it can pay a merchant without ever seeing the shopper's full card details.
By Brandon Mina·CEO, BrandPilot AI·Updated November 2026
Short answer
Delegated payment is a method of passing a limited, single-purpose payment token through an AI agent so it can pay a merchant without ever seeing the shopper's full card details. The token can be restricted by amount, merchant, or time. It allows agent-driven purchases while reducing fraud and data exposure risks.