On January 13, 2026, Ant International and Google joined forces to introduce a groundbreaking open standard tailored for agent-based commerce, known as the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP). This innovative protocol spans the entire shopping journey, acting as a universal communication bridge among agents, consumers, businesses, and payment service providers. It paves the way for effortless collaboration and smooth commercial exchanges. In the Western business context, there's a growing trend of streamlining processes and reducing complexities. The UCP aligns perfectly with this ethos. With the UCP in place, developers are liberated from the cumbersome task of setting up individual connections for each agent. Instead, all agents can seamlessly connect with one another. At present, a number of renowned global payment and retail firms have already embraced this protocol, marking a significant step forward in the world of commerce.