UAE announces world's first commerce transaction via AI

Dubai: The UAE has announced the world's first commercial e-commerce transaction conducted through an artificial intelligence-powered chatbot.

The announcement was made by Michael Miebach, Chief Executive of Mastercard, during a session on leadership in the age of artificial intelligence at the Dubai Future Forum. 

The session was moderated by Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE's Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, the Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications.

Miebach spoke about the UAE's pioneering role in adopting new technologies, leading to the morning's announcement. The transaction was completed in collaboration between Mastercard and "Monte Dylan," a leader in the commerce sector.

He explained that the simple and seamless experiment involved buying two tickets to a movie directly through an intelligent chat interface. This eliminated the need to navigate to search engines or traditional sales platforms. The purchase used pre-stored payment data, making the process faster and more secure. 

Miebach stated that this step opens the door to a new future for e-commerce, where users can rely on A.I. agents for personalized recommendations and to execute purchases in moments, whether for booking cinema tickets or planning a trip.

The discussion also addressed challenges related to security and trust, and how to ensure transactions are secure to avoid fraud risks. He indicated that the solution lies in establishing strict controls and building advanced protection systems without hindering innovation.

Omar Sultan Al Olama affirmed that the UAE consistently proves it is at the forefront of nations interested in future technologies. He stated that this initiative is not only a technical achievement, but a step towards a world where commerce becomes more intelligent and seamless, powered by artificial intelligence.