Permission to Pay

Permission to Pay

AI agents and money, in plain English.

Banks are locking AI agents out. If you let one in, it may be on you.

Oct 27, 2026

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4 min read

Banks are locking AI agents out. If you let one in, it may be on you.

Big banks block outside agents, Wells Fargo's new terms put agent mistakes on the customer, card networks open new lanes, and a 10-minute check you can do this week.

David Samuel
David Samuel
A bank put in writing who pays when an AI agent buys the wrong thing

Oct 20, 2026

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4 min read

A bank put in writing who pays when an AI agent buys the wrong thing

Lead Bank's plan for who pays, Amex's new intent framework, an OpenAI test model that paid with a wallet it was never given, and a one-page policy you can write this week.

David Samuel
David Samuel
Permission to Pay — Issue #2

Oct 13, 2026

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4 min read

Permission to Pay — Issue #2

Stablecoin rules are being written while AI agents already pay with them. Here's what changed this week, in plain English.

David Samuel
David Samuel
Who's on the hook when an AI agent buys the wrong thing?

Oct 9, 2026

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4 min read

Who's on the hook when an AI agent buys the wrong thing?

A Fed governor asks the liability question, Mastercard tests a "was this an agent?" score, and a $1 trick that fools agents.

David Samuel
David Samuel