United Airlines bans AI assistants from buying tickets for travelers

United Airlines says it won't allow personal AI assistants to buy tickets on behalf of travelers, citing privacy and regulatory concerns. AI tools can still show flight options to users, but can't complete the purchase for them.

The airline worries that AI agents browsing websites for users could leak customer data, or place orders without truly understanding what users want. Air travel also involves safety confirmations, like checking luggage contains no explosives, and AI bookings could create compliance issues.

United's CEO Scott Kirby said he doesn't want to add another middleman to the deal. United isn't alone: eBay seems to have blocked such agents from browsing its site, and several large banks have set limits too.

Some observers believe these barriers could keep AI assistants stuck at giving advice, rather than actually handling transactions.