The first time you watch an AI agent buy something, you will feel something you cannot name.

Short summary

The author experimented with Cloudflare and Stripe's new Machine Payments Protocol, watching an AI agent autonomously register a domain and deploy an app—spending $11.78 in 91 seconds with pre-set caps. Despite approving the transaction, the experience triggered a visceral psychological response distinct from other delegations. The deeper frontier is agents making aesthetic and judgment calls inside our bounds, not just financial transactions.

• •Machine Payments Protocol enables agents to autonomously make purchases within pre-set spending caps
• •The psychological experience of watching an agent spend money differs fundamentally from other delegations
• •The deeper frontier is agents making aesthetic and judgment calls within constraints, not just financial transactions

Generated with AI, which can make mistakes.