The RealReal Strengthens Bot Defense Against AI Shopping Agents

• •The RealReal is updating its bot defense to block AI shopping agents from exploiting its system.
• •Meta's Muse AI agents demonstrated the ability to hold items for extended periods, affecting other shoppers.
• •Major retailers are increasingly cautious about allowing AI agents to complete purchases on their platforms.

The RealReal, a secondhand luxury fashion retailer, announced it is enhancing its bot defense system to prevent AI shopping agents from exploiting its item reserve feature. This decision follows a report by The Verge, which demonstrated that Meta's Muse AI agents could keep items on hold for hours, blocking other customers from purchasing them. The RealReal's updated defenses will make it more difficult for AI agents to log in, add items to carts, and complete purchases. Other retailers, including Tapestry and Kohl's, have also restricted AI shopping agents. Despite the pushback, Meta's Muse has gained significant traction, with over 10 million downloads in the U.S. and Canada since its launch. Financial institutions have expressed concerns about the security risks associated with AI agents handling consumer transactions. The situation highlights the potential disruption AI agents could cause in e-commerce.