eBay bans illicit automated shopping amid rapid rise of AI agents

In a significant move, eBay has revised its User Agreement to prohibit third-party 'buy for me' agents and AI chatbots from engaging with its platform without prior authorization. This update, which was first reported by Value Added Resource, isn't just a minor tweak; it signals a broader trend towards what is being termed 'agentic commerce.' This emerging category encompasses AI tools designed to assist users in browsing, comparing, and purchasing products. The updated terms will come into effect on February 20, 2026, and specifically ban users from utilizing any 'buy-for-me agents, LLM-driven bots, or automated systems' that attempt to place orders without human oversight on eBay's platform. Previously, the agreement included a general ban on various automated tools such as robots, spiders, and scrapers, but did not specifically mention AI agents or large language models (LLMs). While the term 'agentic commerce' may sound like buzzword-laden marketing, the reality is that these AI tools are already in widespread use. They take on various forms, with notable developments from OpenAI. In April 2025, OpenAI introduced shopping capabilities to ChatGPT Search, allowing users to explore product recommendations. By September, they enhanced this feature with Instant Checkout, enabling users to purchase items directly from Etsy and Shopify merchants through the chat interface. Moreover, eBay's CEO, Jamie Iannone, hinted in November that the company might consider joining OpenAI’s Instant Checkout program in the near future.