Most Americans Want AI Agent Firms to Cover Fraud
A SEON survey of 2,026 U.S. adults finds most respondents hold AI agent companies responsible for fraudulent agent transactions.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
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Would you trust an AI assistant to make a purchase with your credit card?
A SEON survey of 2,026 U.S. adults, conducted October 2 to 6, 2026, found 65% of respondents who expressed an opinion say the company behind an AI agent should be responsible for fraudulent transactions. Half of respondents said they are uncomfortable letting an AI agent use their credit card details.
Why it matters
As 68% of surveyed Americans already use AI agents at least weekly for personal tasks, questions about who bears losses from agent-made purchases bear directly on consumer protection. The findings suggest trust in agents for payments remains limited even among frequent users.
The SEON survey sampled 2,026 U.S. adults weighted to the national adult population, with 885 respondents offering a view on fraud liability. Because it captures attitudes rather than recorded fraud losses, it does not quantify how often agent-related fraud actually occurs.
The players
SEON
SEON is a fraud prevention company that publishes consumer research on digital payment and identity risks.
The details
Respondents were asked who should answer for fraudulent transactions made by an AI agent, with the company behind the agent drawing the most support. Only 15% said they would share financial information with an AI agent, and 43% lacked confidence in judging whether an agent's request was legitimate.
Timeline
October 2 to 6, 2026: SEON conducts survey fieldwork among U.S. adults.
November 3, 2026: SEON publishes the survey findings.
Industry Context
SEON's survey of AI agent attitudes extends its prior research on consumer trust in automated digital payments into the emerging agentic commerce market. The results show user comfort with agents has not yet caught up with the number of people already relying on them.
Consumers who let an AI agent make purchases may have limited recourse if a transaction is fraudulent, since most respondents expect the agent provider rather than their bank to bear the loss. Reviewing who is liable under a given agent service before granting card access is a practical step.
The takeaway
Most respondents want the company behind an AI agent to answer for fraud, yet half would not give such an agent their card details. Before enabling agent purchases, check which party is responsible if something goes wrong.
Further reading
For more on how automated systems are reshaping online payments, explore Artificial Intelligence coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Bcrpub.
Live Poll
Would you trust an AI assistant to make a purchase with your credit card?
