Alipay, the payments platform operated by Ant Group, has launched a new service that enables OpenClaw-type AI agents — autonomous tools that execute tasks on a user’s behalf, nicknamed “lobsters” in China — to carry out purchases and complete payments based on user instructions, without requiring any coding or complex setup.
The new offering builds on Alipay AI Pay, an AI-native payment solution first introduced in 2025 that facilitates secure transactions through AI agents via voice command. The product passed 100m users in February 2026, becoming the first AI-native payment product globally to achieve this milestone, and processed over 120m transactions in the week of 5–11 February 2026.
Once users have installed Alipay AI Pay from its official website into their AI agent, they can activate the payment function with a simple voice instruction and complete identity verification. From that point, the agent can manage purchases in three steps: the user states what they need, confirms the order and authorises the transaction through Alipay AI Pay. Orders can be adjusted or cancelled at any stage with a single command.
The service is pre-installed on Alibaba Cloud’s JVS Claw and has been rolled out on DTClaw of Ant Group Digital Technologies. It is also available to other OpenClaw-type agents, including Claude Code and Hermes Agent, via straightforward installation.
Security is integrated throughout the service. Activation requires the user to initiate the process and complete identity verification, every payment requires explicit user authorisation, and a round-the-clock intelligent risk control system monitors all transactions. Alipay is also extending its “Full Compensation” account protection programme to the service.
As agentic commerce has expanded in China, Alipay AI Pay has grown across a range of use cases — from AI agents embedded in apps and mini programmes for retailers such as Luckin Coffee, to AI smart glasses including those made by Rokid, and consumer-facing AI applications such as Alibaba’s Qwen. Alongside its consumer-facing offering, Alipay has also introduced a suite of developer-facing services to support broader AI commercialisation. These include a Payment MCP Server, a Payment Integration Skill, an AI Tipping capability, and an AI subscription payment service — each described as the first of its kind in China.
Copyright © 2026 FinTech Global
