Ep. 165 - Agents That Do Real Business: Trust, Authority and the Future of Agentic Commerce, with Blue Language Labs, live from Money 20/20 USA 2026

In the latest episode of The Payments Shed Podcast, filmed live from Money20/20 USA 2026 in Las Vegas, Jason Heister is joined by Zor Gorelov, CEO of Blue Language Labs, for a special Walk & Talk exploring the next evolution of agentic commerce, where AI agents move beyond simply making payments to negotiating agreements, placing orders and conducting business on our behalf. As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly capable of taking autonomous actions, the conversation around agentic commerce is moving beyond checkout. Zor takes us inside the emerging world of agent-to-agent transactions, exploring what happens when AI agents can make offers, agree commercial terms, coordinate fulfilment and complete entire business processes without constant human intervention. They examine where payments fit within this new model and why transferring money is only one part of completing a genuine commercial transaction. The discussion explores what an end-to-end agentic transaction could actually look like. From the initial offer and agreement through to ordering, delivery and settlement, Jason and Zor unpack the infrastructure needed to connect each stage of the commercial journey. A major focus is the impact of agentic commerce on small businesses and merchants. While autonomous agents could unlock new efficiencies, reduce operational complexity and create opportunities for growth, they also raise questions about who controls the customer relationship. The conversation then turns to one of the biggest challenges facing the agentic economy: trust and authorisation. Knowing which AI agent completed an action is not the same as knowing whether that agent had permission to do it. Zor explores the distinction between identity and authority, examining how businesses can verify what an agent is authorised to do, enforce commercial boundaries and establish accountability when autonomous systems act beyond their instructions. They also tackle who should be responsible for establishing the rules of agentic commerce. Should payment networks and major technology platforms define the standards, or does the industry need open infrastructure that enables businesses, developers and AI agents to interact securely across different ecosystems? Plus, Zor takes on The Payments Shed's legendary Shelf of Shame, challenging one of the assumptions the payments industry continues to get wrong about agentic commerce. Recorded live on the exhibition floor at Money20/20 USA 2026, this special Walk & Talk explores why the future of agentic commerce is about far more than enabling AI agents to spend money. It's about building the trust, authority and commercial infrastructure that allows autonomous systems to do real business. The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Cyclops. Cyclops helps payments companies offer crypto acceptance, stablecoin settlement and payouts through one unified infrastructure platform. Find out more: https://cyclops.finance/ The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Salesloft. Salesloft uses agentic AI to turn buyer, conversation, deal and forecast data into clear actions that help revenue teams sell smarter. Find out more: https://www.salesloft.com The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Mastercard Open Finance. Mastercard Open Finance enables businesses to use consumer-permissioned financial data to create more connected and personalised financial experiences. Find out more: https://www.mastercard.com/global/en/business/open-finance.html The Payments Shed Podcast is partnered with PCN. PCN is a global boutique recruitment agency connecting leading talent and businesses across fintech, cybersecurity, SaaS, e-commerce and Salesforce. Find out more: https://teampcn.com/ Disclaimer: Views expressed are those of The Payments Shed Podcast hosts and guests, not their respective employers. Nothing discussed constitutes investment, legal, tax or financial advice.