JD.com unveils AI agent payment protocol with six autonomy levels

JD.com has launched the Agent Autonomous Payment Protocol (A2P2), China's first protocol designed for AI agents to handle payments independently within set rules. It defines six autonomy levels from L0 to L5, focusing on L3 and L4 where agents can initiate or complete payments within user-defined boundaries. For security, the protocol uses an ARI mechanism that verifies the real user, agent identity, and runtime environment before each transaction. A dedicated account isolates the main account, with strict limits on amount, scenario, and recipient. If an agent is hijacked, the system blocks the request. For disputes, a "proof chain" links payment results with task credentials and ARI data, ensuring every AI transaction is traceable and auditable.