Affirm announced that it is expanding its relationship with Google, introducing payment options into Google’s search function, including AI Mode and the Gemini app.
The move comes as third-party AI platforms are becoming more popular shopping choices and retailers move to partner with them.
With the initiative, Google shoppers will be able to proceed from decision to purchase with clear options and transparent terms from Affirm, should they choose it as a payment option, the financial services company stated. If they choose Affirm, shoppers undergo a real-time eligibility check and, if approved, choose the payment plan they prefer. Affirm then presents the full cost, payment schedule and end date before they commit, the company noted.
Affirm pointed out that it has independently developed early versions of BNPL extensions for the Universal Commerce Protocol, the open standard for agentic commerce.
“People deserve transparent, flexible financial options,” Vishal Kapoor, Affirm senior vice president of product, said in announcing the deal. “Agentic commerce may be the moment that makes that impossible to ignore. From day one, Affirm was built around clear terms and transparency, so people can confidently use credit for specific purchases without worrying about fine print or surprises. As more decisions are made by AI on people’s behalf, products that rely on hidden terms or ambiguity won’t hold up. The ones that are clear and predictable will.”
