Amazon Sends Cease-and-Desist to Perplexity Over AI Agent Purchases

Amazon sent a cease-and-desist letter to Perplexity AI, demanding that its Comet browser stop purchasing items on the site. The e-commerce giant accused Perplexity of violating its terms by disguising AI bots as human shoppers and disrupting the online shopping experience. Perplexity responded, calling Amazon's claims 'legal bluster' and asserting that users should have the freedom to choose their AI assistants. The conflict represents a significant moment in the burgeoning market for AI agents that automate online tasks such as shopping. In its defense, Perplexity stated that its Comet assistant only utilizes users’ stored credentials and operates solely on their behalf. Amazon emphasized that AI tools should act transparently and in accordance with established guidelines, highlighting the importance of user autonomy in the evolving landscape of e-commerce and AI applications. This incident reflects the ongoing tensions in the AI-driven market and the respective interests of commercial entities and users.

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