eBay has recently updated its e-commerce platform with a new “Robots & Agent Policy,” visible in its robots.txt file, to regulate how AI agents and large language models (LLMs) interact with its site. This policy strictly prohibits automated scraping, LLM-driven transactions, and any automated order placements without human review. Though these rules are advisory, they emphasize eBay’s intent to limit unauthorized automation. eBay also updated its cart subdomain to block most automated agents, allowing only Google’s shopping bot. This initiative follows similar actions by other retailers like Walmart and Amazon, which have also imposed restrictions on AI agents to ensure transactional integrity. eBay’s CEO has indicated ongoing investments in AI-driven commerce, aligning with trends in the market. As eBay faces increasing competition and evolving technology, these guidelines signal a commitment to protect its marketplace and customer experience amidst a changing landscape.
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