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Amazon has filed a lawsuit against Perplexity AI, alleging that the startup’s automated shopping feature, known as its agentic system, covertly accessed Amazon customer accounts and masked automated activity as if it were carried out by human users.
The dispute has put a spotlight on the growing debate around how AI agents interact with websites as these tools become more advanced and capable of managing everyday online tasks. Perplexity, which has expanded quickly during the surge in AI assistant usage, has previously dismissed Amazon’s accusations and argued that the tech giant is using its size to suppress competition.
In its complaint, Amazon said Perplexity gained unauthorized access to private customer accounts through its Comet browser and related AI agent. The filing claims Perplexity intentionally disguised automated requests as human browsing behavior and continued the activity despite repeated warnings from Amazon.
The company added that Perplexity’s system created security risks for customer data and ignored several requests to halt the practice. Amazon stated that Perplexity configured its CometAI software in a way that prevented the agent’s activities from being properly identified on the Amazon Store.
Amazon Says Perplexity Bypassed Explicit Restrictions
According to the lawsuit, Perplexity crossed clear boundaries and used code to bypass restrictions that Amazon had explicitly communicated. The company argued that whether the intrusion happened through traditional means or automated systems, it was still unauthorized.
Perplexity previously said it received a legal notice from Amazon demanding it prevent the Comet AI agent from placing orders on the platform. The startup called this effort a broader attack on user choice and the future of AI assistants. In a blog post, Perplexity said large corporations resort to legal pressure to shut down innovation and limit consumer benefits.
Amazon claimed the agent negatively affected the shopping experience and interfered with its ability to ensure users receive the curated and personalized service the company has built over the years. It added that third-party apps making online purchases should act transparently and respect platform decisions about participation.
