Apnews AI citations

Abu Dhabi has been actively fostering its AI ecosystem, with several companies and initiatives in the field. Notable AI companies and organizations in Abu Dhabi include: 1. **G42**: A leading AI and cloud computing company that focuses on various sectors, including healthcare, smart cities, and energy. - Website: [G42.ai](https://g42.ai) 2. **BenevolentAI**: This company leverages AI for drug discovery and development, with a focus on improving healthcare outcomes. - Website: [BenevolentAI.com](https://www.benevolent.com) 3. **C3.ai**: Although based in the U.S., C3.ai has a presence in Abu Dhabi, providing AI solutions for various industries. - Website: [C3.ai](https://www.c3.ai) 4. **Data Science Society**: An organization that promotes data science and AI through events and competitions, contributing to the local AI community. - Website: [Data Science Society](https://datasciencesociety.net) 5. **Abu Dhabi Digital Authority (ADDA)**: While not a company, ADDA plays a crucial role in promoting digital transformation and AI initiatives within the government sector. - Website: [ADDA](https://www.adda.gov.ae) 6. **Hub71**: A global tech ecosystem that supports startups, including those focused on AI, by providing resources and funding. - Website: [Hub71.com](https://www.hub71.com) These companies and initiatives contribute to Abu Dhabi's growing reputation as a hub for artificial intelligence and technology innovation.

Here’s a snapshot of leading **AI companies and organizations in Abu Dhabi**, including government-backed initiatives, research institutions, and private enterprises shaping the region’s AI ecosystem: --- ## Major AI Leaders ### **G42** A dominant AI holding group based in Abu Dhabi, G42 operates across healthcare, finance, energy, and public services. It's behind the Inception Institute of Artificial Intelligence (IIAI) and develops models like Jais (Arabic-language LLM). ([Openxcell][1], [Wikipedia][2]) * Partnered with Microsoft (\$1.5B investment; Brad Smith joins board) to scale AI applications via cloud platforms. ([AP News][3]) * Collaborated with Nvidia on climate tech and launched an AI lab in Abu Dhabi. ([Reuters][4]) * Leading global expansion—pursuing a \$1.4B AI initiative in India. ([The Economic Times][5]) --- ## Government-Funded Research & Investment Bodies ### **AI71** An AI company established by Abu Dhabi's Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC) and VentureOne. It spearheads research-led AI efforts and supports applied innovation. ([ai71.ai][6]) ### **Technology Innovation Institute (TII)** A TII is ATRC’s R\&D powerhouse in Abu Dhabi, conducting cutting-edge research across AI, quantum, robotics, cryptography, and more. Notably, TII developed Falcon LLM and Noor (Arabic language models). ([Wikipedia][7]) ### **Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC)** The parent entity overseeing TII, VentureOne, and ASPIRE. It guides Abu Dhabi’s advanced tech strategy and facilitates commercialization. ([Wikipedia][8]) ### **MGX Fund Management Limited** A state-owned AI investment firm launched in 2024, aiming for a massive US\$100 billion in assets under management. ([Wikipedia][9]) --- ## Academic & Innovation Ecosystems ### **Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI)** World's first graduate research university focused exclusively on AI, located in Masdar City. It offers advanced degrees and research in AI, LLMs (like Jais), and sustainability. Also offers undergrad AI programs as of 2025. ([Wikipedia][10]) ### **Hub71** A tech ecosystem and startup hub located in Abu Dhabi Global Market, offering funding, mentorship, and infrastructure to AI startups. It hosts hundreds of startups across sectors. ([Wikipedia][11]) --- ## Private Companies & Startups (Service-Oriented) From rankings on GoodFirms and Clutch: * **Emirates Artificial Intelligence Technologies (Emirates AI)** – AI and ML solutions for business and public sectors. ([clutch.co][12], [GoodFirms][13]) * **PAX AI** – Founded in 2015, focuses on AI-powered urban services like traffic routing and municipal planning. ([GoodFirms][13]) * **Qera** – AI R\&D lab collaborating with government and private clients for efficiency and decision support. ([GoodFirms][13]) * **10xDS – Exponential Digital Solutions** – Digital transformation and RPA, with AI-related services. ([GoodFirms][13]) * **Saal.ai** – Cognitive AI solutions in healthcare, finance, and public sectors. ([GoodFirms][13]) * **Rifoa Technologies** – Small team delivering automation and AI-driven process improvements. ([GoodFirms][13]) From Clutch’s Top Providers list: * **MMC Global**, **Synergy Labs**, **ValueLabs**, **Saal.ai**, **Rifoa**, **Innohub** – Ranked based on ability to deliver AI services with industry-specific expertise. ([clutch.co][12]) Also, startups focusing on generative AI are featured in RightFirms, updated as of September 2025. ([Right Firms][14]) --- ### Summary Table | Category | Notable Entities | | ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | | AI Holding & Innovation | G42, AI71, TII, ATRC, MGX | | Research & Academic | MBZUAI, TII | | Startup Ecosystem | Hub71 | | Service Providers | Emirates AI, PAX AI, Qera, 10xDS, Saal.ai, Rifoa, MMC Global, etc. | --- ## Context & Trends Abu Dhabi is rapidly building itself as a global AI hub—with major investments (like Microsoft’s in G42) and a comprehensive ecosystem spanning research, academia, investment, and commercialization. ([g42.ai][15], [ai71.ai][6], [GoodFirms][13], [Business Insider][16]) --- Would you like assistance narrowing down firms by: * **Industry focus** (e.g., healthcare, smart cities, finance)? * **Stage** (early-stage startups, scale-ups, enterprise-level firms)? * **Type of services** (e.g., custom AI development, LLM, R\&D collaboration, investment)? Let me know what you’re looking to achieve—I can help you dive deeper! [1]: https://www.openxcell.com/blog/artificial-intelligence-companies-in-uae/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Top 10 Artificial Intelligence Companies in UAE for Smart ..." [2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G42_%28company%29?utm_source=chatgpt.com "G42 (company)" [3]: https://apnews.com/article/8a9e3f9840a10f151e2421efb195c9b6?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Microsoft invests $1.5 billion in AI firm G42, overseen by UAE's national security adviser" [4]: https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/uaes-ai-firm-g42-nvidia-team-up-climate-tech-2024-09-20/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "UAE's AI firm G42 and Nvidia to team up on climate tech" [5]: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/security-tech/technology/manu-jains-next-big-play-after-xiaomi-g42s-1-4-billion-bet-to-help-india-achieve-its-ai-ambitions/articleshow/121458035.cms?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Manu Jain's next big play after Xiaomi: A $1.4 billion bet to help India achieve its AI ambitions" [6]: https://ai71.ai/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Elevate human potential and empower smarter decision making" [7]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology_Innovation_Institute?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Technology Innovation Institute" [8]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Technology_Research_Council?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Advanced Technology Research Council" [9]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MGX_Fund_Management_Limited?utm_source=chatgpt.com "MGX Fund Management Limited" [10]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohamed_bin_Zayed_University_of_Artificial_Intelligence?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence" [11]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hub71?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Hub71" [12]: https://clutch.co/ae/developers/artificial-intelligence/abu-dhabi?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Top Artificial Intelligence Companies in Abu Dhabi" [13]: https://www.goodfirms.co/artificial-intelligence/abu-dhabi?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Top AI Companies in Abu Dhabi - Aug 2025 Reviews" [14]: https://www.rightfirms.co/directory/generative-ai/city/top-ai-development-companies-abu-dhabi?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Top Generative AI Development Companies in Abu Dhabi" [15]: https://www.g42.ai/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "G42 | Inventing a Better Everyday" [16]: https://www.businessinsider.com/abu-dhabi-uae-ai-powerhouse-mgx-openai-investment-2024-10?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Trump is eyeing the UAE as a hub for AI expansion. Here's why."

Abu Dhabi has emerged as a major AI hub in the Middle East, with significant growth and investment in the sector. Here's what I found about AI companies and the ecosystem there: ## Current Growth The emirate's AI ecosystem is now the fastest-growing in the Middle East and North Africa, with 150 new AI firms launching in the first half of 2025 alone. Over 58% of AI businesses focus on innovation, research, and consultancy, underscoring a mature, research-driven market. ## Major AI Companies in Abu Dhabi **G42** - G42 is a technology group that invents visionary artificial intelligence for a better everyday. Born in Abu Dhabi and operating across the world, we champion AI as a powerful force for good across industries and societies. **Saal** - Saal is a big data and AI company based in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Saal offers advanced cognitive AI solutions for information-intensive domains such as healthcare, financial services, and public services, helping businesses transition into the digital era. ## International Partnerships Abu Dhabi has attracted significant international investment and partnerships. UAE institutions and companies like G42, Mubadala, NYU Abu Dhabi and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center are joining with American counterparts like Microsoft, IBM, the Cleveland Clinic and NASA to launch new businesses, initiatives and missions to space. ## Future Development As part of the Abu Dhabi deals, OpenAI, Oracle, Nvidia and Cisco Systems announced that they will help build Stargate UAE AI campus launching in 2026. The ecosystem includes both local companies and international tech giants like Google, Microsoft, HP, and Apple that have established presence in the emirate. The focus appears to be on healthcare AI, financial services, research and development, and strategic partnerships with global technology leaders.

Major AI companies in Abu Dhabi include the prominent holding company G42, which focuses on AI development for various sectors, and other significant players like Core42, an AI cloud platform. Other AI companies in the region offer diverse services, from AI-powered logistics with Lyve and personal assistance with Yanzo to IT consulting and digital transformation with firms like GoodFirms. Key Companies & Initiatives G42: A leading Emirati AI development company focused on government, healthcare, finance, oil and gas, and aviation. Microsoft & G42 Partnership: Abu Dhabi is developing the first AI-native government, powered by a partnership with Microsoft and G42, which includes a Microsoft investment and a sovereign AI cloud with Core42. Core42: An AI platform that is part of Abu Dhabi's sovereign AI cloud infrastructure. Other AI Companies in Abu Dhabi Lyve: A technology company specializing in integrated B2B SaaS solutions for logistics and e-commerce. Yanzo: An AI-powered personal assistant service for managing tasks like deliveries, purchases, and home care. Saal.ai: A company involved in AI development, providing various AI solutions. AI Superior: A company focused on delivering advanced AI solutions to solve complex business challenges. A Solutions LLC: An AI consultancy firm dedicated to transforming businesses through innovative AI solutions. Technology Innovation Institute (TII): A prominent research institute in the UAE. Key Services Offered by AI Companies AI Development: Creating tailored AI solutions for specific industries. Cloud Infrastructure: Providing secure, scalable cloud platforms for AI model deployment. Smart City Solutions: Developing AI-based systems for traffic management, infrastructure, and city planning. Data Analytics: Processing vast datasets to provide insights and optimize operations for various sectors.

Here are some compelling **real-world examples** of AI agents **transacting autonomously**, especially via **virtual cards** or **tokenized payment mechanisms**—each backed with reliable sources: --- ## Notable Examples of Agentic Transactions ### 1. **Virtual Cards Empower Agentic Commerce** AI agents can *request, use, and retire virtual cards* dynamically, allowing autonomous transactions with built-in spending limits and merchant restrictions. After use, these cards are deactivated or reused according to policy—all with full audit trails. ([verygoodsecurity.com][1]) ### 2. **Mastercard Agent Pay** Mastercard’s **Agent Pay** enables AI agents to handle tasks such as sourcing, logistics, and importantly, complete payments using *virtual corporate card tokens*. This setup allows small businesses to outsource not just research but actual purchasing securely. ([Mastercard][2], [emscorporate.com][3]) Further commentary highlights how Mastercard’s tokenization and trust infrastructure support AI-driven, transparent commerce. ([Mastercard][4], [Business Insider][5]) ### 3. **Visa’s AI Agent Payment Initiative** Visa is working on giving AI agents access to its payments network via **delegated authorization**, enabling autonomous purchase capability while preserving user-defined budgets. ([AP News][6]) ### 4. **Lithic's Agentic Ad Spend Allocation** A marketing AI agent was able to autonomously allocate a \$10K ad budget across platforms like Google and LinkedIn. It spun up **Lithic virtual cards** with per-platform spend limits, then executed purchases without human input—demonstrating precise control and efficiency. ([lithic.com][7]) ### 5. **AI Agents Generating One-Time-Use Virtual Cards** Agentic AI in fintech can autonomously create **single-use virtual card numbers**, reducing fraud risk. These cards are generated, used, and then automatically deactivated, offering secure, policy-driven transactions. ([prolifics.com][8], [Infosys][9]) --- ## Contextual & Supporting Examples * **Comprehensive Agentic Workflows**: Beyond payments, agentic AI systems are executing complete workflows—like retrieving data, calling APIs, triggering actions, and finalizing transactions in enterprise systems. . ([Microsoft Azure][10]) * **Cross-border Payments & Infrastructure**: Agentic AI is also transforming payments infrastructure, streamlining cross-border payments, compliance, and error resolution—all while increasing trust and efficiency. ([TechRadar][11]) * **Agentic Commerce Overview**: Agentic commerce involves AI agents autonomously completing tasks end-to-end—such as booking flights or reordering items—closing the loop from intent to purchase. ([Mastercard][4]) * **Broader AI Agent Trends**: Numerous sectors—including Mastercard, Visa, Amazon, and OpenAI—are already integrating agentic agents into workflows like travel planning, shopping, and more. ([Kiplinger][12]) --- ## Summary Table | Example | Mechanism | Key Value | | ------------------------------- | ------------------------------ | -------------------------------- | | Agentic Virtual Cards | Issue-use-retire lifecycle | Secure, auditable autonomy | | Mastercard Agent Pay | Virtual corporate card tokens | Automated procurement capability | | Visa Agent Payment | Delegated AI-payment model | Authorized agentic transactions | | Lithic Ad Campaign Automation | Spend-managed virtual cards | Optimized media budget spending | | One-off Virtual Cards (Fintech) | AI-generated, single-use cards | Fraud-resistant payments | --- Would you like me to also provide a downloadable **diagram or flowchart** showing how these payment flows are structured in tooling or enter a **checklist for secure deployment** of agentic payment systems in enterprise settings? --- * [Business Insider](https://www.businessinsider.com/sc/exploring-agentic-ai-mastercards-role-in-transforming-digital-commerce?utm_source=chatgpt.com) * [TechRadar](https://www.techradar.com/pro/building-intelligent-infrastructure-for-a-truly-connected-economy?utm_source=chatgpt.com) * [AP News](https://apnews.com/article/5dfa1da145689e7951a181e2253ab349?utm_source=chatgpt.com) [1]: https://www.verygoodsecurity.com/blog/posts/how-virtual-cards-are-used-in-agentic-commerce?utm_source=chatgpt.com "How virtual cards are used in agentic commerce" [2]: https://www.mastercard.com/us/en/news-and-trends/press/2025/april/mastercard-unveils-agent-pay-pioneering-agentic-payments-technology-to-power-commerce-in-the-age-of-ai.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Mastercard unveils Agent Pay, pioneering agentic payments ..." [3]: https://www.emscorporate.com/news/mastercard-and-visa-unveil-ai-agents-to-do-your-customers-shopping?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Mastercard and Visa Unveil AI Agents to Do Your ..." [4]: https://www.mastercard.com/us/en/news-and-trends/stories/2025/agentic-commerce-explainer.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com "What is agentic commerce? Your guide to AI-assisted retail" [5]: https://www.businessinsider.com/sc/exploring-agentic-ai-mastercards-role-in-transforming-digital-commerce?utm_source=chatgpt.com "As AI agents gain autonomy, trust becomes the new currency. Mastercard wants to power both." [6]: https://apnews.com/article/5dfa1da145689e7951a181e2253ab349?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Visa wants to give artificial intelligence 'agents' your credit card" [7]: https://www.lithic.com/blog/agentic-payments?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Built for Agentic Payments" [8]: https://prolifics.com/usa/resource-center/blog/agentic-ai-in-payments?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Agentic AI In Payments: Transforming The Future Of ..." [9]: https://www.infosys.com/iki/perspectives/agentic-ai-payments.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com "The promise and perils of agentic AI in payments" [10]: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/agent-factory-the-new-era-of-agentic-ai-common-use-cases-and-design-patterns/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Agent Factory: The new era of agentic AI—common use ..." [11]: https://www.techradar.com/pro/building-intelligent-infrastructure-for-a-truly-connected-economy?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Building intelligent infrastructure for a truly connected economy" [12]: https://www.kiplinger.com/personal-finance/what-are-ai-agents-what-can-they-do?utm_source=chatgpt.com "What Are AI Agents and What Can They Do for You?"

**Agents are increasingly transacting autonomously with virtual cards and payments APIs, powering use cases from healthcare reimbursement to travel bookings and cloud finance. Real-world examples demonstrate generative AI agents handling everything from intelligent fund routing to compliance and fraud detection, often leveraging virtual card infrastructure and payment orchestration.**[1][4][5] ## Examples of Agents Transacting - **Healthcare Payments:** Agents employ virtual card APIs to issue instant reimbursements to providers, cutting processing time from days to seconds. These agents automate complex sub-account adjudication (dividing payments across departments), ensure routing correctness, and provide step-by-step transparency on payment journeys—all with real-time fraud monitoring and compliance.[1] - **Travel & Expense Automation:** AI-driven platforms use issuing APIs (e.g., Stripe Issuing) for dynamic creation of virtual cards. Agents can instantly fund cards for employee travel, control spend in real time, and reconcile expenses automatically within one dashboard. They can also book travel with virtual card numbers generated and destroyed on demand.[4] - **Intelligent Commerce and Omnichannel Payments:** Agents in fintech and ecommerce select optimal payment rails (ACH, virtual card, or digital wallet) per transaction, automating spend management and reconciliation for enterprises and platforms.[4][1] - **Fraud and Risk Management:** In banking, generative AI agents leverage card/payment transaction monitoring to generate risk scores, intervene when anomalies are detected, and automate compliance/regulatory requirements, keeping transactions secure.[5] - **Enterprise Integrations:** Stripe’s collaboration with OpenAI enables agents within ChatGPT and DALL-E to transact—handling billing, subscriptions, and tax compliance using virtual cards and fully-automated flows.[5] ## Primary Sources and Citations - [How Generative AI and Virtual Card APIs Are Revolutionizing Payments](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-generative-ai-virtual-card-apis-revolutionizing-payments-gordon-ubnmc)[1] - [Stripe Issuing: Virtual and Physical Card Issuing Platform](https://stripe.com/issuing)[4] - [Generative AI in Payments: 5 Use Cases & Examples (Visa, WEX, Stripe)](https://masterofcode.com/blog/generative-ai-for-payments)[5] These links provide detailed scenarios and reference real implementations where transactional agents interact directly with financial infrastructure for speed, security, and operational efficiency.[1][4][5] [1](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-generative-ai-virtual-card-apis-revolutionizing-payments-gordon-ubnmc) [2](https://medium.muz.li/airtm-virtual-card-complete-case-study-9ecce7451dc8) [3](https://www.halo-lab.com/blog/card-ui-design) [4](https://stripe.com/issuing) [5](https://masterofcode.com/blog/generative-ai-for-payments) [6](https://dribbble.com/tags/virtual_card?page=3) [7](https://dribbble.com/tags/virtual_card?page=2&s=latest) [8](https://www.ltimindtree.com/blogs/generative-ai-in-cards-and-payments-ensuring-security-and-streamlining-transactions/) [9](https://www.behance.net/search/projects/credit%20card%20ui)

I'll search for specific examples of AI agents conducting transactions using virtual cards and other payment methods.Let me search for more specific examples and case studies of agents conducting transactions.Based on my research, here are specific examples of AI agents conducting transactions using virtual cards and other payment methods: ## Major Platform Examples ### **Stripe Agent Toolkit** Stripe released its Agent Toolkit, which enables developers to integrate payments flow into their AI agents, allowing agents to search for and autonomously pay for transactions. They do this by issuing single-use virtual cards with a budget set by the user. **Implementation Details:** - Issuing: Create single-use virtual cards for your business purchases. This allows your agents to spend funds. The Issuing APIs allow you to programmatically approve or decline authorizations, ensuring your purchase intent matches the authorization. Spending controls allow you to set budgets - With a simple LLM function call, agents can create single-use virtual cards using Stripe Issuing or send money with Stripe Treasury. Our built-in safeguards ensure security at every step **Source:** [Stripe Agent Documentation](https://docs.stripe.com/agents) ### **Mastercard Agent Pay** Mastercard will work with Microsoft and other leading AI platforms to scale agentic commerce. The platform is designed to handle the growing demand where Agentic AI is expected to handle up to 20% of e-commerce tasks in 2025. **Source:** [Mastercard Agent Pay Launch](https://www.mastercard.com/us/en/news-and-trends/press/2025/april/mastercard-unveils-agent-pay-pioneering-agentic-payments-technology-to-power-commerce-in-the-age-of-ai.html) ### **Skyfire Agent Checkout** Skyfire's Agent Checkout lets AI agents act like humans — as independent entities with verifiable identities, instead of digital assistants. This enables fully autonomous transactions where agents can shop, sign up for services, and pay independently. **Source:** [PYMNTS Coverage of Skyfire Launch](https://www.pymnts.com/artificial-intelligence-2/2025/skyfire-launches-ai-agent-checkout-to-enable-fully-autonomous-transactions/) ### **Visa Intelligent Commerce** Visa set up Intelligent Commerce as their initiative to empower AI agents to transform the way consumers shop around the world. **Source:** [Visa Intelligent Commerce](https://corporate.visa.com/en/products/intelligent-commerce.html) ## Use Cases and Applications ### **Retail and E-commerce** For example, use Payment Links in chat interfaces or Stripe Issuing to support agent-triggered actions such as returns. Agents are not just a channel—they're a new way to merchandise and personalize. An agent can drive and expedite purchasing intent—surfacing a product, making a purchase decision. ### **Blockchain Integration** Integrating this function allows AI agents to actively participate in transactions, enhancing their autonomy and expanding their role within a broader digital economy. **Source:** [Circle Developer Blog on AI Agents](https://www.circle.com/blog/enabling-ai-agents-with-blockchain) ## Market Trends and Growth The agentic payments market is experiencing rapid growth: - In late 2024 and early 2025, "a surge of launches by startups [aimed] to capitalize on the new AI agent economy" has been evident - In this "agentic" age of commerce, autonomous AI agents are increasingly capable of making purchases, managing finances, and executing transactions on behalf of users without direct human intervention - Stablecoins are gaining traction — transaction volumes have surged, exceeding $450 billion per month in 2024 and reaching $710 billion by March 2025 ## Key Technical Resources **Development Resources:** - [Stripe Agent Toolkit GitHub](https://github.com/stripe/agent-toolkit) - Open source Python and TypeScript libraries - [Stripe Agent Quickstart Guide](https://docs.stripe.com/agents/quickstart) - [Stripe Agent Integration Blog](https://stripe.dev/blog/adding-payments-to-your-agentic-workflows) **Industry Analysis:** - [Fintech Brain Food - Four Models of Agentic Payments](https://www.fintechbrainfood.com/p/four-models-agentic-payments) - [Illuminate Financial - Agentic Payments Analysis](https://medium.com/illuminate-financial/agentic-payments-whats-here-what-s-coming-and-what-s-next-663ccd79bb82) - [Fintech Wrap Up - Deep Dive Analysis](https://www.fintechwrapup.com/p/deep-dive-agentic-ai-in-payments) The trend shows a clear evolution toward autonomous AI agents that can conduct financial transactions independently, with major payment processors building specialized infrastructure to support this emerging commerce model.