Visa, the global payments leader, is embarking on a groundbreaking venture with a $100 million initiative. This bold move is aimed at nurturing the next generation of companies dedicated to the development of generative AI technologies and applications. These advancements are poised to leave an indelible mark on the future of commerce and payments.

Visa’s Pioneering Role in AI

Visa has been a trailblazer in integrating AI into payment systems since 1993. This new initiative represents an extension of Visa’s commitment to harnessing the power of AI for innovation in payments, value creation for partners and clients, and the advancement of global commerce. Generative AI, a burgeoning field within AI, leverages Large Language Models (LLMs) to create artificial general intelligence. This technology can generate text, images, or other content by processing vast datasets and responding to prompts.

Jack Forestell, Chief Product and Strategy Officer at Visa Inc., recognizes the profound potential of generative AI. He states, “While much of generative AI so far has been focused on tasks and content creation, this technology will soon not only reshape how we live and work, but it will also meaningfully change commerce in ways we need to understand.”

Visa Ventures Takes the Lead

Visa’s foray into the generative AI landscape will be spearheaded by Visa Ventures, the corporate investment arm of Visa with a history of fostering innovation in payments and commerce dating back to 2007. This strategic move underscores Visa’s commitment to being at the forefront of generative AI development.

David Rolf, Head of Visa Ventures at Visa Inc., comments on the initiative, saying, “With generative AI’s potential to be one of the most transformative technologies of our time, we are excited to expand our focus to invest in some of the most innovative and disruptive venture-backed startups building across generative AI, commerce, and payments.”

A Legacy of AI in Payments

Visa’s legacy in the application of AI models to payments dates back three decades, and the company has consistently used AI to enhance value and security throughout the payment ecosystem. The inception of Visa Ventures in 2007 marked Visa’s commitment to fostering innovation in commerce on a global scale. Now, with the generative AI initiative, Visa Ventures is extending its purview to support and collaborate with startups that are at the forefront of generative AI, shaping the future of payments.

In sum, Visa’s $100 million generative AI ventures initiative underscores its dedication to harnessing AI’s transformative potential for the benefit of payments, commerce, and beyond.

TL;DR

Visa is investing $100 million in generative AI ventures to support the development of AI technologies that will redefine commerce and payments. This initiative, led by Visa Ventures, reflects Visa’s commitment to leveraging AI for innovation and value creation. Generative AI, powered by Large Language Models, has the potential to revolutionize how we live and work, making it a strategic focus for Visa. With a history of AI integration in payments dating back to 1993, Visa is well-positioned to drive innovation in this space. This move aligns with Visa Ventures’ mission to nurture innovation in commerce, extending its reach to generative AI startups that are shaping the future of payments.