# Brands face surge of AI shopping agents before holidays

> Cheq reports a 100‑fold rise in AI agent traffic as Instinct and Meta’s Muse launch, while Amazon and eBay block them.

Oossa · 2026-10-16 · https://oossa.com/en/brands-face-surge-of-ai-shopping-agents-before-holidays

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.

## The facts

- Cheq saw a 100x increase in AI agent traffic over 45 days after Instinct and Muse launched.
- Amazon and eBay are blocking AI shopping agents.

## Why it matters

Retail marketers will need to adapt product listings to appeal to AI agents that could drive holiday sales.

## Sources & references

1. [Ecommerce confronts AI shopping agents ahead of holiday season](https://www.semafor.com/article/10/16/2026/ecommerce-confronts-ai-shopping-agents-ahead-of-holiday-season) – Semafor, 2026-10-16

Last updated: 2026-10-16