# Before You Let an AI Agent Buy Anything

Companion to Chad Sheppard's x401 explainer:
https://chadesheppard.com/ai-agents-pay-for-things
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1eYK6IYisM

This is a decision checklist, not an x401 installation guide or a payment authorization.

- Confirm the store actually supports your agent and its authorization method.
- Identify which person and which agent the permission applies to.
- Set a maximum total including tax, shipping, and any fees.
- Specify the permitted merchant, item, size, quantity, and substitutions.
- Prefer one purchase and a short permission window over ongoing access.
- Require approval if the total, merchant, or item changes.
- Check how to revoke access and where to find the transaction receipt.
- Review cancellation, refund, and dispute terms before granting permission.
- Never paste card numbers, passwords, or identity documents into an ordinary chat.

Proof's x401 proposal concerns identity and delegated authority. It is not a guarantee that every retailer accepts AI checkout, that an agent chooses the right product, or that a payment cannot be disputed.