The RealReal is upgrading its bot defense system to prevent artificial intelligence agents from making purchases on its website. Items on the platform are automatically placed on hold for 20 minutes once a user puts them into a shopping cart.
The Verge reported that an AI agent could exploit this specific reservation mechanism to secure products. Luke Friang stated that the company has addressed the specific Muse use case identified in the news story.
Friang said the new configuration makes it much more difficult for all agents to log in, add items to a cart, and complete a checkout. The company will still allow agents to find listings and direct Muse users to product pages, Friang noted.
Protections will continue to be strengthened as AI-powered online shopping evolves, Friang said. Meta reported during its Q3 earnings call that shopping was the most frequent use case for Muse.
Purchases made through Muse averaged over $200. In the United States, 10 million people downloaded the Muse app within a 40-day period.
Amazon has already implemented measures to block agents from shopping on its own site.
