Amazon is blocking Meta's Muse AI agent from shopping on its site

Amazon has prohibited Meta's Muse AI agent from its online shopping platform, according to a report by GeekWire on September 20th. The source indicates that Meta did not notify Amazon of Muse's intention to access the marketplace, and the agent fails to disclose its identity during browsing. Moreover, Muse allegedly captures and stores customer details, which could pose privacy and security concerns for Amazon.

An Amazon spokesperson stated that third-party applications, such as those allowing customers to make purchases on behalf of other businesses, should operate transparently and adhere to the provider's decisions regarding participation. The company emphasized that this approach ensures reliable, safe, and secure customer experiences, similar to how food delivery apps and online travel agencies collaborate with restaurants and airlines.

Amazon requested Meta to remove Muse from their platform, without providing further details on potential legal action. Notably, Meta previously claimed that Muse does not have access to users' passwords or payment methods, and user credentials are securely stored for Muse's use. The conflict between Amazon and Meta is particularly intriguing due to their prior partnerships, with Amazon's products available on Meta's social networks since 2023 and Meta investing billions in Amazon's cloud services.

The article also highlights the growing trend of consumers using AI as a shopping tool, with 132 million people in the U.S. making purchases with AI assistance in 2022, and 22% beginning online retail research with AI tools.