RealReal Tightens Bot Defense to Stop AI Agents from Hoarding Designer Items

RealReal announced an update to its bot‑defense system that will make it harder for AI agents to shop on the site. The change follows a Verge investigation that showed an AI agent could exploit the retailer’s item‑reserve system. When a user adds a listing to a cart, the item is held for 20 minutes, preventing other shoppers from buying it. The Verge demonstrated that by using Meta’s Muse platform, an AI could automatically re‑add the listing to a cart as soon as the hold expired, effectively blocking human buyers. RealReal’s new safeguards aim to close this loophole and reduce the ability of automated agents to monopolize limited‑edition luxury goods.