eBay appears to have shut the door on third-party AI agents

eBay appears to have restricted third-party AI agents, including Meta’s Muse, from browsing its listings. The change could limit a much-promoted use of AI agents: finding and comparing products across online shops, though eBay did not confirm when or whether it had introduced new restrictions.

A user told The Verge that Muse had previously gathered watch listings with prices, shipping information and condition notes, but recently reported being blocked from eBay. The company says it restricts some third-party access, including unauthorised scraping, while exploring possible partnerships; its rules already prohibit bots that place orders without human review. Retailers take different approaches, and reported agent-driven orders remain small: Uber handled about 500 Uber Eats orders via third-party agents during Halloween week, while DoorDash reported several hundred against 993 million total orders last quarter.