eBay bans illicit automated shopping amid rapid rise of AI agents

eBay has updated its User Agreement to ban third-party AI agents and chatbots from interacting with its platform without permission, reflecting the rise of "agentic commerce." The new terms, effective from February 20, 2026, specifically prohibit the use of "buy-for-me agents" and AI bots to place orders without human review. OpenAI has already introduced shopping features like ChatGPT Search and Instant Checkout, which allow users to browse and purchase products within chat interfaces. eBay's CEO hinted at the possibility of joining OpenAI's Instant Checkout program in the future.