More than half of consumers would consider using a microchip implant to pay for goods, according to a new trends study from Marqeta.

The research, which surveyed over 2,000 people, also found that as till-less grocers become more prevalent, 32 per cent of respondents find this idea of ambient commerce ‘creepy.’

35 per cent of those surveyed admit they worry that the young people they know who don’t use cash will struggle with learning to budget or to save without physical cash.

A further 83 per cent fear the decline of cash excludes the most at-risk in society, while 83 per cent (the same amount?) felt pressure to ditch cash as places only take card or contactless payments.

31 per cent of of 18–24-year-old respondents saying they would be comfortable with AI making automated decisions on their behalf to choose the most ethical way to pay.

“If the past two years have taught us anything, it’s that no one can predict the future,” said Ian Johnson, senior vice president, managing director, Europe, Marqeta. “In less than a decade’s time, the payments landscape could look very different. It could be the norm to pay by waving a hand.”

Johnson added: “What’s clear is that in 2030 and beyond, digital payments will have an increasingly foundational role in our lives – tying into our ethics, our future education, and the smooth functioning of our economies.”

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