ARC · Answers

Can AI agents reach checkout for you?

Yes, at some stores, and usually only after you approve checkout. In ARC's checks of 3,318 stores (2026-10-06–2026-10-12), 1,311 of 3,318 (39.5%) gave an AI agent a checkout link and 348 of 3,318 (10.5%) blocked the check. Snapshot 2026-10-12.r3, 12 October 2026. Named assistants are not measured. ARC hasn't checked amazon.com yet, so amazon.com is not checked yet. A missing row is not a block and not a zero. ARC hasn't checked walmart.com yet, so walmart.com is not checked yet. A missing row is not a block and not a zero. ARC hasn't checked samsclub.com yet, so samsclub.com is not checked yet. A missing row is not a block and not a zero. ARC hasn't checked target.com yet, so target.com is not checked yet. A missing row is not a block and not a zero.

Approval comes first

In the flows ARC sees, a checkout tool asks the buyer to approve before it completes. ARC stops before payment and never places an order. Whether a named assistant reaches checkout without asking is Not measured.

What ARC counted

Stores with a finished check: 3,318MeasuredSnapshot 2026-10-12.r3, 12 October 2026.

Checkout link: 1,311 of 3,318 (39.5%)MeasuredSnapshot 2026-10-12.r3, 12 October 2026.

Blocked ARC's check: 348 of 3,318 (10.5%)MeasuredSnapshot 2026-10-12.r3, 12 October 2026.

amazon.com: ARC hasn't checked amazon.com yet, so amazon.com is not checked yet. A missing row is not a block and not a zero.Not measuredSnapshot 2026-10-12.r3, 12 October 2026.

walmart.com: ARC hasn't checked walmart.com yet, so walmart.com is not checked yet. A missing row is not a block and not a zero.Not measuredSnapshot 2026-10-12.r3, 12 October 2026.

samsclub.com: ARC hasn't checked samsclub.com yet, so samsclub.com is not checked yet. A missing row is not a block and not a zero.Not measuredSnapshot 2026-10-12.r3, 12 October 2026.

target.com: ARC hasn't checked target.com yet, so target.com is not checked yet. A missing row is not a block and not a zero.Not measuredSnapshot 2026-10-12.r3, 12 October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Can AI agents reach checkout for you?
Yes, at some stores, and usually only after you approve checkout. In ARC's checks of 3,318 stores (2026-10-06–2026-10-12), 1,311 of 3,318 (39.5%) gave an AI agent a checkout link and 348 of 3,318 (10.5%) blocked the check. Snapshot 2026-10-12.r3, 12 October 2026. Named assistants are not measured. ARC hasn't checked amazon.com yet, so amazon.com is not checked yet. A missing row is not a block and not a zero. ARC hasn't checked walmart.com yet, so walmart.com is not checked yet. A missing row is not a block and not a zero. ARC hasn't checked samsclub.com yet, so samsclub.com is not checked yet. A missing row is not a block and not a zero. ARC hasn't checked target.com yet, so target.com is not checked yet. A missing row is not a block and not a zero.
Do AI agents reach checkout without asking?
In the flows ARC sees, checkout tools require the buyer's approval before completing. ARC stops before payment and never places an order.
Can an AI agent reach checkout at any store?
Yes, at some stores, and usually only after you approve checkout. In ARC's checks of 3,318 stores (2026-10-06–2026-10-12), 1,311 of 3,318 (39.5%) gave an AI agent a checkout link and 348 of 3,318 (10.5%) blocked the check. Snapshot 2026-10-12.r3, 12 October 2026. Named assistants are not measured.
Does ARC place an order?
No. ARC stops before payment and never places an order.

On ARC

Cite this: ARC, arcreport.ai, snapshot 2026-10-12.r3 (2026-10-12), CC-BY-4.0. Protocol figures: Snapshot 2026-10-12.r3, 12 October 2026. Index browser figures: Snapshot 2026-10-12.r3, 12 October 2026. Platform figures: Snapshot 2026-10-12.r3, 12 October 2026.

Every figure is labelled Measured, Inferred or Not measured. Not measured is not zero. A missing result is not a mark against a store. ARC stops before payment.