Cheq, a cybersecurity firm that tracks AI shopping bots, says traffic from these agents jumped 100 times in a 45‑day window after consumer AI agents such as Instinct and Meta’s Muse were released. The bots are still a tiny share of shoppers, but their growth is rapid. Amazon and eBay have blocked the agents to keep control over ads and checkout. A Morning Consult poll finds shoppers are as likely to follow an agent’s suggestion as an influencer’s, though most are uneasy about letting AI buy for them.
Why it matters
Retail marketers will need to adapt product listings to appeal to AI agents that could drive holiday sales.
