Websites are closing their doors to AI agents

Websites including Yelp, Delta Air Lines and major banks are restricting AI agents, limiting their ability to book travel, shop or access accounts. The restrictions raise questions about how useful agents can be if businesses choose not to let them act on customers’ behalf, with security and commercial interests among the concerns.

Yelp says it permits agents only through a paid data licensing programme, while JPMorgan Chase and Charles Schwab cite security concerns. Amazon has challenged agents’ shopping access, including Meta’s Muse; a court ruling against Perplexity was overturned by an appeals court in August, and Amazon has since amended its complaint. Meta has partnered with retailers such as Walmart and Sephora, while some agents may also be caught by widespread anti-bot systems.