Paystack Introduces AI Agent Checkout in Nigeria

Paystack has launched an experimental product that allows users in Nigeria to complete purchases through AI agents.

The product, called Paystack Index, works with AI assistants such as ChatGPT, Claude, and OpenClaw. It builds on Paystack’s existing payment infrastructure and integrates with Zap, the company’s consumer payments product.

The launch comes as AI adoption grows in Nigeria. A Google-Ipsos survey found that 88% of Nigerians surveyed used generative AI in the past year. Meanwhile, 62% said they used it for tasks such as planning trips, meals, and workouts.

Paystack believes payments could become the next activity users hand over to AI.

“Paystack has always focused on helping businesses get paid safely and reliably, wherever their customers are,” said Shola Akinlade, chief executive officer of Paystack.

“As AI agents become a more common way for people to search, decide, and take action, we think checkout has to evolve too.”

The product currently supports airtime and data purchases across major Nigerian networks. Users can also fund wallets and make transfers through Zap. In addition, they can order food from Chowdeck through supported AI clients.

According to Akinlade, the product grew out of the company’s belief that AI agents are becoming a new interface for commerce.

“We believe AI agents could become another important interface for commerce, where people move from asking questions to completing real tasks,” he told TechCabal.

For now, Paystack is rolling out Index through a limited early-access programme. The company currently offers the product only in Nigeria. It also supports a small group of merchants and services.

Paystack will grant access gradually as it gathers feedback and studies user behaviour.

The company said the phased rollout will help it learn how consumers use AI to complete transactions. It also wants to test demand before expanding the service to more users, merchants, and African markets.

Behind the scenes, Paystack Index connects AI assistants, merchants, Zap, and Paystack’s payment infrastructure.

If a user asks an AI assistant to buy airtime, the assistant handles the conversation. Index then interprets the request, checks permissions, identifies the correct provider, and routes the transaction through Paystack’s systems.

Paystack said users remain in control throughout the process. The company does not store card details, CVVs, PINs, or bank account credentials through Index. Instead, transactions run through its existing payment infrastructure.

The company also said AI agents will not choose merchants on their own when multiple providers offer the same service. Instead, Index considers user intent, merchant availability, delivery context, transaction requirements, and permissions before routing a transaction.

During the beta phase, Paystack plans to study whether AI-powered commerce becomes a habit. It also wants to understand whether AI can become a meaningful discovery channel for merchants.

“We’re also looking at what this means for Paystack merchants and supported services,” Akinlade said.

“If Index creates a meaningful new way for merchants to be discovered, selected, and paid through AI agents, that’s an important signal.”

The launch also highlights the broader ambitions of TSG Labs, the venture studio behind the product. While the company is exploring AI-powered products, it is also studying how stablecoins could support businesses and consumers across Africa.

Akinlade said the company is taking a cautious approach. It continues to assess market demand, regulation, and potential use cases before launching new products.

“It’s an area we’re taking seriously, and we’re being deliberate about how we build, who we build for, and what responsible adoption should look like,” he said.

Paystack Index is the latest in a series of product launches. Over the past year, Paystack introduced Zap, upgraded its merchant dashboard with AI features, launched a small business support programme, and expanded payment options in South Africa and Kenya.

The company plans to add more merchants, services, billers, and markets as it learns from user behaviour during the beta phase.

“The goal is to learn how people want to use AI agents for everyday commerce, how merchants can show up in these new experiences, and what infrastructure can make AI-led checkout work safely in African markets,” Akinlade said.