The financial sector is witnessing unprecedented transformation through artificial intelligence, with global AI spending accelerating at a remarkable pace. According to the newly released "AI Transformation 2025" report from ResearchAndMarkets.com, the generative AI market is on track to reach USD 425 billion by 2030, reflecting the technology's growing influence across industries.
Organizational adoption of AI has matured significantly, with nearly 80% of companies now implementing AI across multiple business functions. The report indicates that by 2025, one in three companies globally will allocate over USD 25 million toward AI initiatives, with Japan, Singapore, and the USA leading this investment trend.
In the payments sector, Visa has emerged as a frontrunner in AI innovation with its Intelligent Commerce platform launched in April 2025. The platform enables AI agents to make purchases on consumers' behalf using tokenized credentials that enhance security while simplifying payment processes. These AI-ready cards confirm that a consumer's chosen agent is authorized to act on their behalf, bringing robust identity verification to AI commerce while allowing users to set spending limits and conditions.
"Just like the shift from physical shopping to online, and from online to mobile, Visa is setting a new standard for a new era of commerce," said Jack Forestell, Visa's Chief Product and Strategy Officer. The company is collaborating with tech giants including OpenAI, Microsoft, and Anthropic to build a trusted AI commerce ecosystem that spans more than 150 million merchant locations globally.
Despite accelerating adoption, the report highlights significant challenges. Only 20% of organizations report having robust risk and compliance structures for AI, while talent shortages are driving a shift toward upskilling and internal training. Ethical concerns around data privacy, transparency, and user trust continue to shape responsible AI implementation strategies.
As digital payments evolve, the integration of AI is expected to dramatically reshape consumer experiences. With AI-powered chatbots projected to manage 95% of customer interactions by 2025 and save businesses 2.5 billion hours annually, the financial sector stands at the forefront of an AI-driven revolution that promises to fundamentally transform how we shop, pay, and manage financial transactions.