Retailers Set Differing Policies for Artificial Intelligence Shopping Agents

Major retail companies are setting distinctly different boundaries on how far artificial intelligence shopping agents can operate on their platforms, PYMNTS reported on October 5, 2026. The shift comes as businesses decide whether to allow third-party software tools to assist buyers or to restrict automated access to protect their customer relationships. [1]

According to PYMNTS, Amazon is actively blocking outside artificial intelligence agents from accessing its site while the company builds its own proprietary automated tools. Meanwhile, other retail companies are opening their platforms much wider to outside automated software. For example, QVC allows AI shopping agents to complete purchases for customers. [1]

Other major retail brands are choosing hybrid approaches to balance access with control, PYMNTS reported. Tapestry sells its products through Google artificial intelligence tools, but the company keeps those agents off its own checkout system to retain direct control over the final purchase process. [1]

Walmart is also attempting to let artificial intelligence inside its ecosystem without giving away its relationship with the buyer, according to PYMNTS. When a shopper selects a Walmart item inside Google Gemini, Walmart's own Sparky agent takes over the shopping basket. PYMNTS added that about 61 million consumers in the United States start their shopping process through these channels. [1]