Amazon Sends Legal Threats to Perplexity Over Agentic Browsing
Amazon has officially issued legal threats to Perplexity over agentic browsing, alleging that Perplexity’s AI assistant, Comet, violated Amazon’s terms of service by operating without proper identification. Perplexity claims Amazon is attempting to stifle innovation, sparking debate about whether AI-powered agents need the same disclosure as third-party apps. The dispute raises new questions about AI permissions, user rights, and how far tech giants will go to control automated access to their platforms.
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Why Did Amazon Send Legal Threats to Perplexity Over Agentic Browsing?
Amazon argues that Comet acts as an AI shopping assistant without identifying itself as an agent, which violates Amazon’s policies. The company says other platforms—like food delivery apps and travel services—properly disclose their involvement when interacting with brands. Perplexity counters that Comet only acts on user command and therefore should have the “same permissions” as human shoppers.
Is This Amazon’s First Legal Action Against an AI Company?
Yes. Perplexity called this Amazon’s first major legal attack against an AI company. The controversy escalated after multiple warnings from Amazon, which ultimately led to a cease-and-desist order. Perplexity publicly responded with a blog post titled “Bullying is not innovation,” framing Amazon’s stance as a threat to all internet users experimenting with agentic browsing.
What Does This Mean for AI Agentic Browsing and Shoppers?
The conflict could redefine how AI tools interact with online platforms. If Amazon’s interpretation prevails, AI agents like Comet may need to explicitly identify themselves when browsing or making purchases on behalf of users. This could slow adoption of AI assistants in e-commerce, placing stricter limits on automation and potentially giving dominant platforms more control over how users shop online with AI.
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