Amazon Takes Legal Action Against AI Startup Over Automated Shopping
Here’s the latest development shaking the tech world: Amazon has filed a lawsuit against the AI startup Perplexity, focusing on a feature in Perplexity’s browser that can automatically place orders for users. According to Amazon, the startup’s AI has been covertly accessing customer accounts and masking its activity to look like normal human browsing. In Amazon’s view, this isn’t just a minor oversight—it’s a serious violation of both customer trust and legal boundaries. Their lawyers emphasized that just because the trespass involves software rather than a physical lock, it remains unlawful.
Perplexity, meanwhile, has pushed back, framing Amazon’s lawsuit as an attempt by a dominant company to stifle competition. In a blog post, the startup criticized Amazon for “bullying” smaller innovators and argued that legal threats are being used to limit user choice and slow the evolution of AI assistants. This clash underscores a growing debate about how AI agents—autonomous digital assistants that can handle everyday online tasks—should interact with websites, particularly those that handle sensitive customer data.
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The legal complaint details Amazon’s concerns that Perplexity’s Comet browser and its AI agent, Comet AI, were bypassing safeguards and degrading the shopping experience. Amazon argued that the AI not only accessed private accounts without permission but also ignored repeated requests to stop, posing security risks to customers. In Amazon’s view, third-party apps that make purchases on behalf of users need to operate transparently and respect the rules set by the businesses they interact with.
On the other side, Perplexity defended its system, saying user credentials are stored locally, never on its servers, and argued that users should have the freedom to choose their AI assistants. The startup portrayed its tools as enhancing convenience and efficiency, allowing users to shop more easily and make better purchasing decisions. It also framed Amazon’s legal action as more about protecting its business model and ad revenue than helping customers.
This lawsuit is part of a broader trend where AI startups are attempting to reimagine web browsers as intelligent, autonomous assistants capable of completing complex tasks online—from drafting emails to managing shopping carts. Amazon itself is developing similar AI-driven tools, such as “Buy For Me” and Rufus, its assistant designed to recommend products and manage carts.
Ultimately, this case could set important precedents for the regulation of AI in commerce, especially regarding how AI agents interact with platforms, handle sensitive data, and influence the customer experience. It’s a developing story that highlights the tension between innovation, user convenience, and corporate control in the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence.
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