Paystack is exploring a new way for customers to complete online payments by allowing AI assistants such as ChatGPT to handle the checkout process, offering an early glimpse into how conversational commerce could reshape digital payments across Africa.

The feature, currently in testing, would enable users to complete purchases through AI conversations rather than navigating traditional checkout pages, reflecting a growing shift towards AI-powered commerce.

Payments Move Beyond Websites

Instead of manually filling payment forms, customers could instruct an AI assistant to complete purchases, with Paystack's technology processing transactions securely in the background.

The development follows a wider industry trend where AI assistants are evolving from answering questions to performing real-world tasks, including shopping, bookings and financial transactions.

For merchants, conversational checkout could reduce friction during online purchases while opening new sales channels across AI platforms.



Why It Matters

Nigeria has one of Africa's most mature digital payments ecosystems, making it a natural testing ground for AI-enabled commerce.

If conversational checkout gains traction, it could fundamentally change how consumers interact with online stores, shifting e-commerce from websites and apps towards AI assistants that can search for products, compare prices and complete purchases within a single conversation.

While the technology is still in its early stages, Paystack's move positions the company among the first African fintechs experimenting with what many see as the next evolution of online payments.