Amazon.com Inc. has issued a cease-and-desist letter to AI startup Perplexity, demanding the cessation of its Comet browser agent, which allegedly violates Amazon’s terms of service by making unauthorized purchases. The clash underscores the escalating competition in the “agentic commerce” arena, where AI assistants shop for users. Amazon accuses Perplexity of degrading the shopping experience and posing privacy risks, claiming that Comet operates without necessary disclosures. In response, Perplexity argues Amazon is stifling competition to protect its own AI shopping tools. CEO Aravind Srinivas emphasizes that AI agents should have the same rights as human users, framing the dispute as a battle for user choice. The situation is complicated by Perplexity’s ties to Amazon Web Services and investments from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. As AI agents gain prominence, this confrontation may shape future e-commerce dynamics, with implications for online shopping and advertising. The broader tech industry watches closely as these legal tensions unfold.
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