# The RealReal tightens bot defences after AI agent ties up stock

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/the-realreal-wont-let-ai-agents-hog-designer-clothing/
- Published: 2026-10-26T17:30:55+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-26T17:47:38+00:00
- Original publisher: The Verge
- Original article: https://www.theverge.com/news/1018713/meta-muse-agentic-shopping-ai-the-realreal
- Topics: AI, Culture, Fashion, Technology

## Key points

- The RealReal tightened protections against AI shopping agents.
- Muse could repeatedly renew 20-minute holds on items.
- Retailers are adjusting as agent-led shopping grows.

## Summary

The RealReal has strengthened its bot defences to make it harder for AI agents to log in, reserve items and complete purchases. The change followed a report showing that Meta’s Muse agent could repeatedly place items in its cart, keeping them unavailable to other shoppers and exposing a weakness in the retailer’s 20-minute hold system.

The RealReal says agents can still find listings and direct users to product pages, and that it will keep improving protections. Meta said shopping was Muse’s most common use so far and that purchases averaged more than $200; it also reported 10 million US downloads in 40 days. The incident highlights how automated shopping could disrupt retailers’ customer relationships and site features.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.