Amazon Sues Perplexity AI Over Alleged Unauthorized Shopping Agent Activity

Amazon has escalated its dispute with Perplexity AI, filing a lawsuit in San Francisco federal court to halt the startup's Comet shopping agent from operating on its platform. The e-commerce giant alleges the AI tool accessed customer accounts without proper disclosure while masking automated activity as human browsing—a claim Perplexity dismisses as anticompetitive bullying.

The legal confrontation spotlights growing tensions between established tech firms and AI innovators. Amazon contends Perplexity ignored cease-and-desist warnings, potentially compromising user data security. Meanwhile, Perplexity's public response frames the lawsuit as an attempt to restrict consumer choice in AI assistants, vowing to resist what it characterizes as intimidation tactics.

This case may establish critical precedents governing how AI agents interact with digital platforms. The outcome could reshape boundaries for automated systems performing user-directed tasks across e-commerce ecosystems.