As US Regulators Move to Define AI Rules for Consumer Services, Nearly 60% of Americans Fear Losing Control of Over Money While 44% Expect AI to Take Over Payments, Aevi Data Shows

LONDON, April 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As U.S. regulators prepare further guidance on how artificial intelligence should operate in consumer-facing services, including payments, new research from payment platform Aevi reveals:

• 59% of Americans fear losing control over how or when payments are made if AI is managing them
• 54% worry they would be unable to stop or override AI decisions
• 53% are concerned about AI being hacked, while 50% fear misuse of their financial data
• 49% worry payments could happen without their clear consent, highlighting concerns around transparency and visibility
• Only 5% have no concerns, pointing to near-universal scepticism toward AI-led payments

Aevi's survey of over 3,000 adults exposes a clear trust gap as AI moves closer to real-world deployment in commerce, and while consumers recognise potential benefits such as faster checkout and fraud protection, most remain uncomfortable with systems that reduce visibility, control, or explicit consent in payments.

51% of Americans wouldn't feel comfortable with anyone using AI to manage their money on their behalf, reinforcing resistance to delegation regardless of provider.

Crucially, 44% believe AI agents will manage everyday payments within the next decade, a growing disconnect between expectations and consumer readiness.

On what the findings mean for the future of payments, Aevi CEO Mike Camerling highlights a key distinction emerging from the research:

"Agentic commerce isn't being rejected because it uses AI. It's being rejected because it removes visibility, perceived control, and a clear moment of consent from payments. When people don't understand what a system is doing or why a decision was made, trust erodes very quickly.

This distinction appears repeatedly throughout the findings, however, trust breaks down when AI begins to operate invisibly, continuously, or without clear consent.

In-person payments already solve many of the trust challenges around AI. There is a human interaction, a visible device, and a deliberate action to complete the transaction. AI's role is not to replace that moment, but to enhance it by helping select the right offers, loyalty benefits, or payment methods at the point of sale."

There is a critical tension for the payments industry: while many consumers expect AI-managed payments to become commonplace, they remain hesitant to embrace systems that reduce control, visibility, or clear consent.

SOURCE Aevi