Why are major app developers hesitant to grant AI agents access?

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Major app developers hesitate to grant AI agents access because they want to keep direct control of their platforms and users

Major app developers are hesitant to let AI agents gain broad access because they want to maintain direct contact with their users. They also fear losing control to another party once an AI agent can operate across their platforms. This concern was shown when Alibaba, Tencent, and JD.com restricted the built-in assistant’s access to their platforms, which effectively disabled the AI agent in certain situations, including when payments were involved.
They want to keep direct contact with users
Platforms generally value direct interaction with their users, since that contact helps them control how services are delivered. IDC research associate director Kiranjeet Kaur said platforms want to keep that direct relationship, otherwise “they lose control to another party.” In the context of AI agent smartphones, broad access would shift that relationship away from the app operators.
They fear losing control to another party
Kaur also highlighted that “lose control” is a sticking point for AI agent devices, because giving wide platform access can hand influence to an external system. When an AI agent can act across apps, the platform’s role in decision-making and execution can be reduced. That control issue is central to why major app developers are cautious about opening their ecosystems.
Restrictions by Alibaba, Tencent and JD.com disabled agent functions
The hesitance has been demonstrated in practice by major Chinese tech firms restricting assistant access. After the phone prototype released in December, Alibaba, Tencent, and JD.com restricted the built-in assistant’s access to their platforms. The restrictions effectively disabled the AI agent, and ByteDance turned off the tool in certain circumstances, including when payments were involved.
Even with “agentic phones,” app access remains contested
Chinese tech reporting described some devices as trying to collaborate with apps rather than forcing entry, but the underlying access problem remains. The first-generation Doubao phone was still “hobbled” when major apps blocked unauthorised access. Other AI phone efforts, such as Honor’s Robot Phone and StepFun’s STEPX Neo, also depend on partnerships, which reflects how access and control concerns shape what these agents can do.

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Why are major app developers hesitant to grant AI agents access?

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