Perplexity AI Claims Amazon is “Bullying” Over Comet Browser

Perplexity AI, the developer behind the AI-driven browser Comet, is accusing Amazon of “bullying” tactics after receiving a cease-and-desist letter. This letter demands that Perplexity prevent users from utilizing Comet to make purchases on Amazon’s platform.

According to a recent report, the company stated it has faced “aggressive legal threats” from Amazon. The core issue relates to Comet’s ability to allow users to ask the Comet Assistant to find products and make purchases for them. Perplexity asserts that users appreciate this feature, while Amazon insists that this practice must stop.

The cease-and-desist letter from Amazon’s legal team claims that Perplexity is engaged in computer fraud by not being transparent when its AI agents perform actions on behalf of users on Amazon. The letter explicitly states that Perplexity lacks the authority to use a hidden Comet AI agent to access Amazon’s services or user accounts.

This isn’t the first instance of Amazon attempting to block external AI agents from accessing its site. Recently, the company has implemented strategies to deter AI agents from firms like OpenAI, Google, and Meta from crawling its platform.

In its blog, Perplexity argued that Amazon should welcome the convenience that Comet provides, which could enhance shopping experiences, leading to increased transactions and customer satisfaction. Yet, the startup also accused Amazon of focusing more on advertising and sponsored results while influencing buyer choices through upsells and misleading offers.

In response to these claims, Amazon, in its own blog, emphasized that third-party shopping agents need to operate transparently and should adhere to the service provider’s guidelines about participation. The company contended that Perplexity’s operations lack transparency and are bypassing Amazon’s systems to gain unauthorized access.

Amazon further claimed that Perplexity’s agents negatively impact the shopping experience by presenting products that don’t enhance discovery and lack personalized recommendations, potentially resulting in slower delivery speeds for customers. The company suggested that Comet should adhere to similar obligations that apply to other services, like food or courier deliveries, which operate with provider consent.

Despite its attempts to limit the use of AI tools externally, Amazon has launched its own AI products, including a shopping chatbot named Rufus and a service called “Buy For Me,” allowing users to purchase items from various websites without leaving the Amazon app. CEO Andy Jassy stated in a recent earnings call that Amazon is open to collaborations with third-party AI agents, while still emphasizing the need for a superior customer experience.