RealReal Overhauls Security to Stop AI Bots From Locking Up Designer Items

Shoppers at the luxury consignment platform RealReal face a new barrier to entry as the company updates its bot defense system. The changes are designed to make it harder for artificial intelligence agents to log in, add items to a cart, and complete a purchase. The move follows recent testing that showed how these automated tools could exploit the site's inventory reserve system.

On RealReal's website, an item is held and removed from general availability for 20 minutes once a customer places it in their shopping cart. This window is intended to give buyers time to finish a transaction. However, the reserve system created an opportunity for automation. An agent could simply re-add the item to the cart the moment the 20-minute timer expired, keeping the product locked away from other humans for hours or even days.

The Verge previously demonstrated this issue using Meta's Muse app. By instructing the AI to continuously manage the cart, the agent effectively blocked other shoppers from purchasing the selected designer clothing. The capability allowed a single user to monopolize high-demand items without needing to make a final decision on the purchase.

Luke Friang, RealReal's chief technology officer, confirmed the company has addressed the specific use case flagged in the recent report. In an email, Friang stated that the bot defense configuration now makes it much more difficult for all agents to access the checkout process. While AI tools can still surface listings and direct users to product pages, the path to securing an item is now more restricted.

The update arrives as AI agents become a standard feature for millions of consumers. Meta reported on its third-quarter earnings call this month that shopping is the most common use case for its Muse app. The company noted that average purchases through the agent exceeded $200. Muse has also seen rapid adoption, with 10 million people in the United States downloading the app within 40 days of its launch.

Retailers are increasingly worried that agents may alter the traditional relationship between brands and customers. If shoppers interact with websites primarily through chatbots, businesses lose direct visibility and advertising opportunities. Amazon has already moved to block agents from shopping on its site to protect its bottom line. RealReal's move places it in line with other major retailers seeking to maintain control over their inventory and sales channels.

Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the changes at RealReal. The reseller said it will continue to strengthen its protections as AI-powered online shopping evolves. The company aims to balance the convenience of automated assistance with the need to keep its inventory accessible to all customers.