United blocks AI agents from booking flights due to privacy and regulatory concerns

United Airlines has announced it will prevent unauthorized AI agents from booking flights on its platform, citing concerns over privacy and regulatory compliance, The Verge reported.

The airline is worried that AI agents might expose customer information or make unintended purchases, as well as potentially bypass federal requirements such as passenger attestations regarding prohibited items in luggage, according to The Verge and The Wall Street Journal.

While AI agents can display flight options to users, they will not be permitted to finalize transactions on behalf of customers, limiting the functionality of personal AI assistants like Meta's Muse and OpenAI's Dots, The Verge explained.

United's CEO expressed reluctance to add another intermediary in the booking process, and noted that the company has not yet observed widespread use of AI agents for flight bookings, The Verge noted.

Other companies, including eBay and several major banks, have also restricted AI agents from transacting on their sites, indicating a broader industry trend, The Verge reported.

United has indicated it may revisit its stance if future technological advancements address current concerns, The Verge added.