AI Set to Redefine Shopping and Payments, Says Affirm CEO
Nov 19, 2025

AI Set to Redefine Shopping and Payments, Says Affirm CEO

Max Levchin, CEO and co-founder of Affirm, outlined how artificial intelligence will transform shopping and payments at the Reuters Momentum AI Finance conference in New York on Tuesday.

Levchin said AI agents will soon be able to instantly weed out products with prohibitively high interest rates or late fees, forcing businesses to rethink fee structures. "I think we're headed for a future where we have a profound elimination, for lack of a better term, of business models that are designed to prey on stupidity, or lack of attention ... because it's all going to get done by the bots," he said.

He predicted that AI agents will soon shop and pay on behalf of consumers and recommend the best financial products to accommodate their purchases. Levchin, a PayPal co-founder, cited his own experience, stating, "My dumb, young, naive self in college signing up for a deferred interest credit card would have never known to read the fine print. But even if I did, I would have been lost in the morass within seconds because it's deliberately obscure. AI does not have a problem with that. It can read the finest of prints, it will find the gotcha."

Buy now, pay later (BNPL) providers like Affirm and Klarna offer loans that shoppers repay in installments spread over as many as 36 months, although the most common plan has four payments. According to Adobe Analytics, BNPL drove $82.4 billion in online spending in 2024, up 9.9% from 2023.

Levchin outlined Affirm's approach to AI in an August letter to shareholders, arguing that the company was "built for this," with products that can be integrated into chatbots, internet browsers and digital wallets. He added that the shift toward agentic shopping will create winners and losers across retail and payments.

Among other large companies pivoting towards autonomous AI, Walmart unveiled plans in July to roll out a suite of AI-powered "super agents" to help customers and streamline operations. The retailer is betting on AI to drive its e-commerce growth, aiming for online sales to account for 50% of its total sales within five years.

  1. 1. INTRODUCTION

    Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business

    1. REPORT DESCRIPTION
    2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND THE AI PLATFORM
    3. DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
    4. GLOSSARY AND SPECIFIC TERMS
  2. 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    A Quick Overview of Market Performance

    1. KEY FINDINGS
    2. MARKET TRENDS This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional EditionPRO
  3. 3. MARKET OVERVIEW

    Understanding the Current State of The Market and its Prospects

    1. MARKET SIZE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
    2. CONSUMPTION BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
    3. MARKET FORECAST TO 2035
  4. 4. MOST PROMISING PRODUCTS FOR DIVERSIFICATION

    Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business

    1. TOP PRODUCTS TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS
    2. BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS
    3. MOST CONSUMED PRODUCTS
    4. MOST TRADED PRODUCTS
    5. MOST PROFITABLE PRODUCTS FOR EXPORT
  5. 5. MOST PROMISING SUPPLYING COUNTRIES

    Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain

    1. TOP COUNTRIES TO SOURCE YOUR PRODUCT
    2. TOP PRODUCING COUNTRIES
    3. TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES
    4. LOW-COST EXPORTING COUNTRIES
  6. 6. MOST PROMISING OVERSEAS MARKETS

    Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Export

    1. TOP OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR EXPORTING YOUR PRODUCT
    2. TOP CONSUMING MARKETS
    3. UNSATURATED MARKETS
    4. TOP IMPORTING MARKETS
    5. MOST PROFITABLE MARKETS
  7. 7. PRODUCTION

    The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry

    1. PRODUCTION VOLUME AND VALUE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
    2. PRODUCTION BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
  8. 8. IMPORTS

    The Largest Import Supplying Countries

    1. IMPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
    2. IMPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
    3. IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
  9. 9. EXPORTS

    The Largest Destinations for Exports

    1. EXPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
    2. EXPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
    3. EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
  10. 10. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERS

    The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles

  11. 11. COUNTRY PROFILES

    The Largest Markets And Their Profiles

    This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO
    1. 11.1
      United States
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    2. 11.2
      China
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    3. 11.3
      Japan
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    4. 11.4
      Germany
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    5. 11.5
      United Kingdom
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    6. 11.6
      France
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    7. 11.7
      Brazil
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    8. 11.8
      Italy
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    9. 11.9
      Russian Federation
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    10. 11.10
      India
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    11. 11.11
      Canada
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    12. 11.12
      Australia
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    13. 11.13
      Republic of Korea
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    14. 11.14
      Spain
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    15. 11.15
      Mexico
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    16. 11.16
      Indonesia
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    17. 11.17
      Netherlands
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    18. 11.18
      Turkey
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    19. 11.19
      Saudi Arabia
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    20. 11.20
      Switzerland
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    21. 11.21
      Sweden
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    22. 11.22
      Nigeria
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    23. 11.23
      Poland
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    24. 11.24
      Belgium
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    25. 11.25
      Argentina
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    26. 11.26
      Norway
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    27. 11.27
      Austria
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    28. 11.28
      Thailand
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    29. 11.29
      United Arab Emirates
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    30. 11.30
      Colombia
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    31. 11.31
      Denmark
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    32. 11.32
      South Africa
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    33. 11.33
      Malaysia
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    34. 11.34
      Israel
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    35. 11.35
      Singapore
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    36. 11.36
      Egypt
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    37. 11.37
      Philippines
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    38. 11.38
      Finland
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    39. 11.39
      Chile
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    40. 11.40
      Ireland
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    41. 11.41
      Pakistan
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    42. 11.42
      Greece
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    43. 11.43
      Portugal
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    44. 11.44
      Kazakhstan
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    45. 11.45
      Algeria
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    46. 11.46
      Czech Republic
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    47. 11.47
      Qatar
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    48. 11.48
      Peru
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    49. 11.49
      Romania
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    50. 11.50
      Vietnam
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
  12. LIST OF TABLES

    1. Key Findings In 2025
    2. Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    3. Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    4. Per Capita Consumption, by Country, 2022–2025
    5. Production, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    6. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    7. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    8. Import Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    9. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    10. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    11. Export Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
  13. LIST OF FIGURES

    1. Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    2. Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    3. Consumption, by Country, 2025
    4. Market Volume Forecast to 2035
    5. Market Value Forecast to 2035
    6. Market Size and Growth, By Product
    7. Average Per Capita Consumption, By Product
    8. Exports and Growth, By Product
    9. Export Prices and Growth, By Product
    10. Production Volume and Growth
    11. Exports and Growth
    12. Export Prices and Growth
    13. Market Size and Growth
    14. Per Capita Consumption
    15. Imports and Growth
    16. Import Prices
    17. Production, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    18. Production, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    19. Production, by Country, 2025
    20. Production, In Physical Terms, by Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    21. Imports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    22. Imports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    23. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2025
    24. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    25. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    26. Import Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    27. Exports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    28. Exports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    29. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2025
    30. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    31. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    32. Export Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)

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