JPMorgan Chase, the largest U.S. bank, recently blocked online banking access for external artificial intelligence (AI) agents acting on behalf of customers, with CEO Jamie Dimon stating during a recent conference call that the bank is blocking such access “due to security risks.” Charles Schwab is also restricting external AI agents from logging into customer accounts, and Amazon has prevented AI agents from searching for or purchasing products, with retailers like Kohl’s and Neiman Marcus following suit. The article cites security concerns including fake agents stealing login or payment details and legitimate agents exceeding delegated authority, as well as operational costs from increased queries straining websites and customer service centers. It also notes companies’ interest in protecting existing revenue and control over customer data. In an Accenture survey, 71% of respondents welcomed the introduction of AI agents in their primary bank’s app, and Walmart declared, “We will open our services to AI agents,” while ensuring product prices seen by AI and humans are identical and displaying discount or fee information before payments.