Detecting AI-enabled bot traffic using a risk-based approach. Survival for eCommerce in the age of Agentic AI shopping

The maturity and availability of low-cost AI technology have accelerated the use of bot technology for market research and sophisticated click fraud. In this presentation, as recognised leaders in anti-bot technology, we present our cutting-edge research on a risk-based bot detection technology enabled by the FAIR risk quantification standard to yield high assurance of bot detection. We also explain how to amplify these assurance signals to attract, instead of blocking, bot traffic to elevate the eCommerce site and increase the click conversion rate. We will include a practical case study from one of our pilot projects on the effectiveness and necessity of a risk-based bot detection and non-blocking approach to survive and thrive in the Agentic AI shopping era. If you can’t beat them, join them!

Traditional bot detection approachs, is no longer fit-for-purpose to yield high confidence in the bot detection signals. Compounding the problem is the rise in AI Assistant shopping, such as Amazon Alexa+, which are genuine avatars for their human consumer. Blocking access to AI Assistant to the eCommerce sites would be akin to blocking Google web crawler 20+ years ago, which essentially kills the online business. Merchants then and now are caught between a rock and a hard place - to block or not to block bots?

The increasing sophistication of the detection bot techniques implementing proof-of-work challenges, such as Hashcash, yields a much larger set of side channel signals, which enables quantifiable risk analysis using FAIR. We are partnering with a world-renowned FAIR expert to develop cutting-edge bot detection algorithms in the Agentic AI age, not to block them but to lure them to targeted offerings.

A key to this paradigm shift is to weaponise and stack the eCommerce site with product attributes. While humans are attracted to inspirational colour, eye-catching graphics and emotional quotes. bots (or AI Agents) are only interested in product attributes. eCommerce sites need to detect bots, not to block them, but redirect them to landing pages packed with attributes they are looking for.

This strategy is akin to the age-old psychological tricks marketers use to embed sublime non-visual messages in websites to hook shoppers. Marketers need to relearn their trade in creating an “emotional connection” with bot. That is a really tall order. Please join us in this presentation to find out how the cyber team can empower your market team to survive and thrive in the brave new Agentic AI shopping world.

We will also walk through a practical case study from our of our pilot project how this approach has “moved the needle” in this Agentic AI shopping arm race.