Multiple sites block AI agent access
What happened
On 17 October 2026, The Verge reported that sites including Yelp, Delta Air Lines, JPMorgan Chase and Charles Schwab are blocking access by AI agents. Users of Meta's Muse, xAI's Grok, and OpenAI's Dots and Instinct have all reported their agents being blocked while carrying out tasks on mainstream websites. The report does not specify the technical methods used to block access, when the blocking began or how many sites are involved, and does not mention any response from the sites or AI companies concerned. The situation remains at the stage of user reports of blocking and media round-up coverage.
Written by AI from the reports · updated 4 h ago
Timeline
Follow the reports to see the event from each side.
- The Verge · AIWebsites are closing their doors to AI agents
Autonomous agents are the hottest thing in AI. OpenAI, Meta, Google, Instinct, and others promise their agents can scour the internet on your behalf, doing anything from booking a dinner reservation and cleaning out your inbox to buying new shoes. But what happens when the rest of the internet won't play nice?
Heat of this event
Current heat 9·Peak in the comparable range 10（Oct 17 22:00）·Change over 24 hours in the comparable range –
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