Websites are closing their doors to AI agents

<figure> <img alt="Digital collage of various toy robots." data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty Images" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/STK414_AI_CVIRGINIA_C.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">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?</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">In recent weeks, users of services like Meta's Muse, xAI's Grok, OpenAI's Dots, and Instinct have reported blocks preventing their AI agents from performing tasks across top websites. Yelp <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/06/the-next-hurdle-for-ai-agents-getting-websites-to-let-them-in/">told <em>TechCrunch</em></a> that it only allows AI agents that pay for its data licensing program, while Delta Air Lines is preventing them from booking ticket …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/1013195/ai-agents-blocked-web">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>