OpenAI and Google launch rival AI checkout protocols ACP and AP2 for online stores
OpenAI has released ACP and Google has released AP2, two competing protocols that allow AI agents to complete purchases on behalf of users at online stores. ACP works by creating a managed checkout session via API calls, where the agent interacts with line items, shipping, and totals while payment is processed through a Shared Payment Token charged via Stripe. AP2 takes a different approach, requiring merchants to sign a short-lived JWT containing a W3C PaymentRequest cart, with settlement handled through the buyer's credentials provider and payment network. A key implementation challenge with AP2 is that the cart hash must be byte-identical across all systems, requiring canonical JSON formatting per RFC 8785 rather than standard serialization methods. Merchants looking to support AI-driven checkout now face a choice between the two protocols, each tied to different distribution ecosystems — ChatGPT for ACP and Google for AP2.
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