Google’s Mueller: Test Ecommerce Sites for Agentic AI
▼ Summary
– Google’s John Mueller highlighted an experiment testing ecommerce site accessibility for AI agents, suggesting businesses check their compatibility.
– An experiment by Malte Polzin found most top Swiss ecommerce sites were accessible to ChatGPT’s AI agent, but some had access issues.
– Common barriers for AI agents included CAPTCHAs, Cloudflare’s Turnstile tool, maintenance pages, and bot defenses blocking access.
– Mueller advised ecommerce sites to ensure they accommodate AI agent shoppers, as agentic search may become more common.
– SEOs should consider adding Agentic AI accessibility testing to audits, especially for ecommerce and form-heavy sites like local services.
Ensuring your ecommerce site works smoothly for AI-driven shoppers is becoming increasingly important as agentic search grows in popularity. Google’s John Mueller recently highlighted an experiment testing whether top Swiss online stores were accessible to AI agents like ChatGPT. The findings revealed that while many sites functioned properly, others faced accessibility issues due to security measures or technical barriers.
The experiment, conducted by Malte Polzin, examined how well the 50 largest Swiss ecommerce platforms accommodated AI-assisted shopping. Most performed adequately, but several stores blocked access for various reasons. Common obstacles included CAPTCHAs, Cloudflare’s Turnstile tool, maintenance pages, and bot detection systems, all of which can unintentionally prevent AI agents from completing purchases.
Mueller’s recommendation was straightforward: online retailers should verify their sites work seamlessly for shoppers using AI agents. He humorously noted that while some businesses might prefer limiting access due to high demand, blocking these tools could frustrate potential customers. His comments also touched on the broader debate about whether AI agents should be treated as bots or users, suggesting that actions, rather than user-agent identification, might be a better way to differentiate.
For SEO professionals, this raises an important question: should agentic AI accessibility become part of standard ecommerce audits? Beyond retail, other industries, such as local services requiring form submissions, might also need to ensure their platforms are AI-friendly. As AI-driven shopping assistants gain traction, optimizing for these tools could become just as critical as traditional SEO practices.
The key takeaway? Testing your site’s compatibility with AI agents now could prevent lost sales and improve user experience as this technology becomes mainstream. Whether adjusting security protocols or refining bot detection, proactive measures will help businesses stay ahead in an evolving digital marketplace.
(Source: Search Engine Journal)
