The Cyborg Shopper: Is It the Future or Just a Blip?

As a fringe group of consumers gets microchips implanted in their hands to make payments without using any external devices, time will prove whether these shoppers are early adopters or simply eccentrics.

A TikTok video from last year with more than 10 million views, by a user who fittingly goes by @paybyhand on the platform, appears to show the user completing a payment at a fried chicken restaurant using a chip implanted in his hand, much to the confusion and amusement of the server working behind the counter.

Pay-by-hand capabilities are becoming available, as an extension of the contactless payment systems already prevalent with credit cards and smartphones, with provider Walletmor asserting the convenience and futuristic appeal of these implants.

The Guinness World Record holder for the greatest number of technological implants in the body is California-based magician Anastasia Synn, who as of November 2023 had 52 implants. Half of these implants are microchips, which Synn says are shallowly implanted for easier removal.

“I think the Guinness World Records title for the most removal surgeries in one day would be a good one, but possibly one only I could do,” Synn told Guinness World Records.

It is worth noting that many consumers seek out digital payment methods in stores, even if their methods are usually less centered on biohacking. The PYMNTS Intelligence report “Digital Wallets Beyond Transactions: U.S. Edition” drew from a survey of more than 2,100 United States consumers to understand their perceptions and use of digital wallets in the last year and into the future. The results revealed that 48% of U.S. consumers have paid for items they bought via eCommerce channels using their digital wallets’ stored payment, while 39% have done so in-store.

Plus, the study found that a small share of consumers wants frictionless digital options for more than just payments. Specifically, 8.7% of consumers said they have used a digital wallet to store credentials that enable nontransactional uses, such as accessing places, events or services.

For advocates, the appeal is clear. No more fumbling for a wallet or worrying about a lost or stolen credit card. The microchip offers an unprecedented level of ease, especially in a world increasingly leaning toward cashless transactions. Early adopters hail from tech-savvy, urban demographics, eager to embrace what they see as the next logical step in the evolution of personal technology.

However, for implantable chips to become a mainstream retail solution, challenges must be addressed. Security concerns, potential health risks and consumer privacy issues all require careful consideration.

Security is a top concern for many shoppers. The PYMNTS Intelligence study “2023 Global Digital Shopping Index: U.S. Edition” found that 40% of U.S. consumers rank this concern as either the most important or “very or extremely important” while shopping online.

“How much are we willing to pay, for the sake of convenience?” FinTech expert Theodora Lau, co-author of the book “Beyond Good: How Technology Is Leading a Business Driven Revolution,” told the BBC. “Where do we draw the line when it comes to privacy and security? Who will be protecting the critical infrastructure, and the humans that are part of it?”

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