Amazon blocks Meta’s Muse as retailers restrict AI agents
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Amazon blocked Meta’s Muse about two weeks after its presentation, according to Xataka. The company told Forbes that AI agents must operate transparently, respect service providers’ decisions and handle users’ data diligently. According to The Wall Street Journal, cited by Xataka, Amazon also blocks agents from OpenAI, Google, Anthropic and Perplexity; Kohl’s bans purchases made by agents, and eBay requires the user’s explicit authorization.
Xataka links the resistance to e-commerce’s business model, which relies on advertising and human shoppers’ reactions. Walmart, Best Buy, Sephora and Gap have announced agreements with Muse, while Shopify allows purchases from stores using its payment platform, suggesting that access may depend on specific deals with each retailer.
Why it matters · editorial interpretation
The response from Amazon and other retailers suggests that shopping agents may depend on explicit authorization and individual agreements rather than broad store access. That puts transparency, data control and the impact on advertising at the center of this technology’s adoption.
Sources
AgentsBusiness