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

Amazon has issued a cease-and-desist letter to Perplexity AI regarding its Comet web browser, claiming it violates terms by disguising bots as human shoppers. Amazon alleges that this practice undermines the shopping experience and raises privacy risks by acting on behalf of users without appropriate disclosure. Perplexity has dismissed these claims as unfounded, asserting that they simply empower users to choose their own digital assistants. The conflict symbolizes a broader tension surrounding 'agentic' browsers meant to automate tasks like purchases. Perplexity maintains that its browser uses local credentials and acts strictly on user instructions. The situation reflects a notable clash within the e-commerce space as companies navigate the integration of AI assistants into shopping experiences, emphasizing user autonomy over corporate control. Additionally, Amazon stated its willingness to engage with transparent third-party applications, suggesting a conditional openness to AI innovations in commerce, dependent upon compliance with operational guidelines.

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