Perplexity Calls Amazon ‘Bullying’ After Receiving Cease-and-Desist Over Comet AI Assistant

Amazon Demands Perplexity AI Stop Its Shopping Bot on E-Commerce Platform

Perplexity AI has come under legal pressure from Amazon, which has issued a cease-and-desist letter demanding the company halt its AI-powered Comet browser from making purchases on the retail giant’s platform.

The conflict highlights growing tensions between large e-commerce providers and emerging AI-driven shopping assistants.

Amazon Accuses Perplexity of Violating Terms

The letter, reportedly sent on 31 October, claims Perplexity’s Comet browser breached Amazon’s terms of service by purchasing items on behalf of users without identifying itself as an automated agent.

Amazon contends that in some cases, Comet logged into users’ accounts like a standard browser, bypassing personalisation systems and causing inaccuracies in delivery estimates and pricing.

Amazon’s Cease and Desist letter directed to Perplexity’s CEO Aravind Srinivas. (Source: Amazon)

Lara Hendrickson, an Amazon spokesperson, stated:

“We think it’s fairly straightforward that third-party applications that offer to make purchases on behalf of customers should operate openly and respect service provider decisions,” adding that Amazon has repeatedly asked Perplexity to “remove Amazon from the Comet experience, particularly in light of the degraded shopping and customer service experience it provides.”

Amazon’s policies clearly forbid the use of bots or automated tools to scrape data or make purchases without proper authorisation.

The company cited examples of other applications, including food delivery apps, online travel agencies, and delivery services, which identify themselves when acting on behalf of users.

Perplexity Rejects Allegations and Calls Out Amazon

Perplexity, valued at around $20 billion, denied any wrongdoing, calling Amazon’s action a “bullying tactic” aimed at stifling competition in the growing AI shopping market.

In a blog post titled “Bullying is not innovation,” the company wrote:

“This week, Perplexity received an aggressive legal threat from Amazon, demanding we prohibit Comet users from using their AI assistants on Amazon. This is Amazon’s first legal salvo against an AI company, and it is a threat to all internet users.”

CEO Aravind Srinivas argued that Comet, acting on instructions from human users, should have the same rights as a person browsing and buying on Amazon.

He maintained that Comet neither scrapes nor trains on Amazon’s data, stating,

“It’s not Amazon’s job to survey who is shopping on behalf of whom.”

Perplexity also suggested that Amazon’s concern is linked to its advertising business, claiming that bots bypass upsells and sponsored products, potentially affecting Amazon’s revenue.

Amazon’s AI Ambitions and Market Protection

The move comes as Amazon develops its own AI shopping tools, including the Rufus assistant, “Buy For Me,” and “Help Me Decide,” which aim to enhance user convenience while keeping transactions within its ecosystem.

CEO Andy Jassy acknowledged the challenges posed by third-party AI agents during a recent earnings call, noting that most AI shopping assistants currently deliver “not good” customer experiences due to limited personalisation and inconsistent fulfilment data.

Still, he hinted at possible future collaborations with external developers.

The company has also taken steps in recent months to limit access by AI agents from other tech giants, including OpenAI, Google, and Meta, reflecting broader industry concerns over automated interactions on retail platforms.

Are AI Shopping Agents Going Too Far?

Coinlive observes that the dispute raises critical questions about the balance between convenience, transparency, and control in e-commerce.

If AI agents increasingly act autonomously on behalf of users, should platforms demand strict identification, or does that risk stifling innovation?

Amazon’s stance suggests a preference for ecosystem control and revenue protection over unfettered AI experimentation, yet the debate touches on wider issues of user rights and the future of automated commerce.

This confrontation may set a precedent for how AI agents operate online, highlighting a tension between user convenience and the interests of dominant digital platforms.