AI agents are being positioned to act on users’ behalf, from booking restaurants and cleaning out inboxes to buying shoes. But real-world use hits an immediate roadblock when websites such as Delta Air Lines, JPMorgan Chase, and Charles Schwab block agents for security reasons, while Yelp permits only agents that pay for data licensing.
The problem is not limited to business policies or advertising that could lose eyeballs. Anti-bot systems may also see agents as programs attempting to commit fraud or hack systems, making the promise that AI can truly do everything on the web increasingly questionable.
When Online Assistants Encounter Closed Doors
AI agents are not blocked in the same way on every website, but their paths to completing tasks are becoming less predictable. Meta has therefore chosen to partner with Walmart, Gap, Sephora, and Best Buy, while Shopify has opened its merchant network to agent access.
Even with partnerships, problems remain. Some users have reportedly been unable to complete checkout on Walmart, and some Google accounts were blocked after using Muse. Cloudflare has also offered a single-button option for blocking AI crawlers since 2025, which could mean that the number of places where agents can actually work will continue to shrink.
Problems That Arise When Online Tasks Are Entrusted to Agents
Some users have found that Muse, Grok, Dots, and Instinct no longer work on popular websites, from booking Delta Air Lines flights to accessing JPMorgan Chase and Charles Schwab accounts, which are blocked for security reasons.
There have also been reports that Cars.com and Amtrak, which previously worked, no longer allow agents to access them. When agents encounter restrictions like these, they can no longer continue working on behalf of users, even though they were designed to handle online tasks.
Automated agents from OpenAI, Meta, Google, Instinct, and other companies are being positioned to act on users’ behalf across the internet, from booking restaurants and managing inboxes to buying shoes. Their selling point is that users do not have to perform every step themselves.
But this capability does not depend on AI alone. Agents must also be able to access and interact with the destination websites. If a website does not accept them, or if its systems identify them as bots, the task they were supposed to perform stops immediately.
From Perplexity to Muse, Grok, and Dots: The Same Problem in a New Cycle
Perplexity was once barred by Amazon from using its shopping agent, before being sued and ordered by a judge to stop using it on the website. An appeals court later overturned the order in August, but Amazon has since filed an amended complaint.
In the new cycle, Muse, Grok, and Dots are facing similar problems. They have reportedly been unable to access Amazon, while Cars.com and Amtrak may also be blocking agents.
| Factor | Perplexity | Muse, Grok and Dots |
|---|---|---|
| Shopping on Amazon | Amazon barred the use of shopping agents | Reportedly unable to access Amazon |
| Lawsuits and court orders | Amazon sued; a court ordered the service to stop before an appeals court overturned the order | No information about lawsuits or court orders in the sources |
| Blocked by websites | Amazon is the main case | Amazon, along with reports involving Cars.com and Amtrak |
Where Real-World Use Runs Into Problems
If you ask an AI agent to purchase something through Amazon, it may not work right now, as Muse, Grok, Instinct, and Dots have reportedly been unable to access the site. Amazon says that Muse’s continued access violates its website policies.
Meta has partnered with Walmart, Gap, Sephora, and Best Buy to enable shopping through Muse, but there are still reports that some users have been unable to complete checkout on Walmart.
Flight booking also has limitations. Delta Air Lines prevents AI agents from booking tickets on users’ behalf, while financial accounts at JPMorgan Chase and Charles Schwab are blocked for security reasons.
How Each Agent’s Approach Deals with the Web’s Barriers
The article reports that Amazon has blocked Muse, Grok, and Dots, but most of the information comes from users or reports on Reddit rather than confirmations from every company.
| Factor | Meta’s Muse | xAI’s Grok | OpenAI’s Dots |
|---|---|---|---|
| Websites reportedly blocked | Amazon and some Google accounts | Amazon | Amazon |
| Problems encountered | Unable to access websites, and some users unable to complete checkout on Walmart (user reports) | Unable to use Amazon (user reports) | Unable to use Amazon (user reports) |
| Approach reported in the news | Meta says it wants to work with businesses and has retail partners | Elon Musk said it may launch an Amazon competitor | OpenAI has not commented in the article |
Strengths and Limitations Seen in Real-World Situations
Agents can perform many tasks on users’ behalf, from booking restaurants and managing email to buying things. There are also merchants that allow access through partnerships with Meta, Walmart, Gap, Sephora, Best Buy, and Shopify.
Pros
- +Can perform many types of tasks on users’ behalf
- +Can access merchants participating in the network
- +Reduces the number of steps required on websites
Cons
- −Many websites block access
- −Anti-bot systems may identify agents as threats
- −Cannot access financial accounts because of security concerns
- −The Amazon–Perplexity dispute leaves the legal status uncertain
Prices That Do Not Appear on the Product Page
The cost of an AI agent does not end with a subscription or service fee. It also includes tasks that fail when websites block flight bookings, purchases, or account access. Reliability declines as well, because an agent that is supposed to work on our behalf may only function on certain platforms.
In addition, anti-bot systems may see agents as programs attempting to commit fraud or hack systems, causing accounts to be blocked or checkout to fail. AI bots also add strain to internet infrastructure and create problems for email inboxes, making web use even more complicated than before.
When Websites Choose Whether to Accept Customers Arriving with Agents
Platform owners believe that agents must respect the rules, and some services allow access only when there is a data agreement in place. Yelp, for example, requires agents to join its data licensing program, while Amazon worries that allowing agents to shop on users’ behalf could reduce the number of people who see advertisements.
AI companies argue that agents are like assistants or employees hired by users to perform tasks for them, and therefore should not be denied access in the same way as ordinary bots. The issue is not merely technological, but whether websites should allow agents to access everything or let each service set its own conditions.