The RealReal tightens bot defenses after AI agent hoarded listings

The RealReal updated its bot defense system, making it harder for AI agents to log in, add items to carts and check out. The move followed a Verge report that a Meta Muse agent could repeatedly re-reserve listings and block other shoppers for hours.

• The RealReal holds cart items for 20 minutes; the agent kept renewing the hold
• Agents can still surface listings and link users to product pages
• Meta says shopping is Muse's top use case, with average purchases above $200
• 10 million people in the US downloaded Muse in 40 days