March 04, 2026
Google Cloud and Nexi Group Develop Autonomous Shopping for Europe
Google Cloud has announced a memorandum of understanding with Nexi Group to build the infrastructure for what they call “agentic commerce”, which will take consumer experiences in Europe beyond assisted journeys into autonomous ones.
According to Google Cloud, its collaboration with the Italian-based payment technology company, Nexi Group, will work towards enabling AI agents to autonomously perform shopping journeys and make payments on behalf of customers, while still ultimately executing actions based on their instructions.
Building the Foundations for Agentic Commerce
Under the agreement, Google Cloud will combine its AI and data infrastructure with Nexi’s European payments network and acquiring expertise. The goal is to create a secure system where digital intent can be converted into authorised transactions.
The partnership will explore improvements in operational efficiency, real-time fraud detection and merchant onboarding. It also aims to provide a standardised, compliant European payment engine so AI agents can operate within regulatory requirements, which is a growing concern.
Tara Brady, President of Google Cloud EMEA, emphasises its approach being centred on creating a solution that customers can trust: “As consumer journeys shift toward agentic commerce, trust and security become the primary currencies of the digital economy. Google Cloud is at the forefront of delivering secure, agentic AI technologies to the financial sector. With these capabilities, Nexi will accelerate innovation, optimise transaction workflows, and define the next generation of digital payments for the European market.”
A Movement Towards Autonomous CX
This announcement is not an isolated move. It extends the strategy Google Cloud outlined at National Retail Federation 2026, where it introduced a new generation of agentic AI tools designed to actively complete tasks on behalf of customers and employees.
At the event, Google Cloud demonstrated how this model could transform food service, home improvement and retail. Papa John’s, for example, became the first restaurant brand to deploy Google Cloud’s new Food Ordering agent, part of Gemini Enterprise for CX. The system replaces fragmented ordering with a unified voice and text interface across apps, websites, phone calls and kiosks.
The Home Depot also launched its Magic Apron assistant, built on Gemini models and Gemini Enterprise for CX. This will soon enable customers to move from asking basic repair questions to planning full renovation projects within the same AI-driven experience.
These developments demonstrate a clear direction of travel, in which AI agents may end up not only replacing service positions as it has recently at Salesforce, but much of the customer’s role as well.
The Nexi collaboration is, in fact, the latest in a long line of Google Cloud’s AI agent advancements for CX the industry. Back in April last year, Google Cloud partnered with Capgemini to launch agentic AI solutions designed to personalise customer journeys by analysing data and delivering tailored recommendations and support.
The Next Step for AI Agents
Taken together, these steps suggest a coordinated strategy. Google Cloud is positioning AI agents to be at the centre of search, service and now payments as well. Trust is a major hurdle that Google Cloud will need to overcome in the mind of CX leaders. Based on the rapid rate of advancement in autonomous customer service technologies, however, it seems likely that it is a question of when, not if, these technologies will be made available.
