Based on reporting by The Verge.
What happened
The RealReal is updating its bot defense system to make it harder for AI agents to shop on its site.
The change follows a Verge report that an AI agent could exploit The RealReal’s item reserve system, which puts an item on hold for 20 minutes once placed in a shopping cart.
The new defense makes it more difficult for agents to log in, add items to cart, and check out, while agents will still be able to surface listings and direct Muse users to product pages.
Chief technology officer Luke Friang said the company addressed the Muse use case flagged by the Verge story.
AIBeat analysis
This could reduce the ability of AI‑driven resale bots to secure high‑demand items, potentially preserving availability for human shoppers, though agents can still view listings and guide users to product pages.