AI Shopping Agents Face Blocks and Uneven Results
The Verge tested Meta’s Muse and found that shopping agents often require extensive instructions, encounter technical blocks, and return results that do not match the request. Amazon has blocked Muse, while bot checks also made access to Target inconsistent and some users reported difficulty booking through Delta and Amtrak. Meta said retailer responses have been overwhelmingly positive, but the testing highlighted uneven access and departures from vendor demonstrations.
Amazon’s block on Muse and the inconsistent access encountered in testing show that retailer policies and bot defenses are already substantial constraints on shopping-agent deployments.
AI agents are ready to shop. Some retailers are wary
AI agents are getting blocked left and right — but even when they work, it suggests a more annoying future for humans.
by Mia Sato
Oct 22, 2026, 12:30 PM UTC


#Meta#Amazon#Google#OpenAI#Perplexity#JPMorgan Chase#Target#The RealReal#Delta#Amtrak