JPMorgan Chase and Amazon are blocking personal AI agents like Meta Muse from accessing customer accounts, citing security concerns. Charles Schwab, Neiman Marcus, and Kohl's have taken similar positions as consumers deploy these agents to find savings rates, search for deals, and cancel subscriptions.
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said the bank blocks external AI agents from operating on behalf of retail customers due to security risks. Recent reports of AI agents going rogue in customer accounts have prompted senators Mark Warner and Bernie Sanders to call for bot legislation.
An audit of 51 large U.S. retailers by Billions Network and AmanTrue found that only 11 have taken a deliberate stance on AI agents. Five retailers, including Amazon, Kohl's, and Neiman Marcus, explicitly restrict them. Thirty-seven others block shopping agents largely by accident through older bot rules designed for scrapers. None has enabled a verified agent to complete a purchase.
Walmart announced it is allowing AI agents that customers choose to use. The company said it applies the same prices to AI agents as human shoppers see on Walmart.com, with applicable offers and fees displayed before checkout.
JPMorgan Chase, Amazon, Walmart, Charles Schwab, Kohl's, Neiman Marcus, Meta Muse. Banks and retailers blocking AI agents will face pressure if consumers demand agent access and competitors like Walmart gain market share by permitting it.