Retailers Block AI Shopping Agents Over Data Security and Bot Concerns

As AI shopping agents developed by companies like Meta, OpenAI, and Google become more widespread, major retailers such as Amazon and Target are blocking or restricting these agents on their platforms due to data protection, bot concerns, and service provider preferences.

While AI-powered shopping agents such as Meta's Muse, along with tools from OpenAI and Google, promise to offer personal assistant services to users, retailers are taking security measures in response. One of the most prominent examples in the market, Amazon filed a lawsuit against Perplexity alleging that it ignored requests to block its AI agent from shopping on the site, and most recently blocked Meta's Muse agent as well.

Target spokesperson Loni Monroe stated that the success of agents in accessing sites depends on implemented security rules and the nature of the task. Meanwhile, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon announced that they will not allow external agents to access accounts on the grounds that they pose risks to customers and the company. Second-hand luxury fashion retailer The RealReal updated its bot defense configuration to prevent AI agents from continuously adding items to carts and tying up inventory.