Amazon has sued Perplexity AI, alleging that the startup’s “agentic” shopping tool unlawfully accessed customer accounts and disguised automated activity as human browsing. Filed in California’s Northern District Court, the lawsuit claims Perplexity’s Comet browser used AI agents to make purchases on Amazon’s platform without authorization.
Amazon said the system posed a security risk and degraded the shopping experience, accusing Perplexity of ignoring repeated warnings to stop. “Perplexity’s misconduct must end,” the filing said, adding that the startup’s use of automation “makes it no less unlawful” than physical trespass.
Perplexity, which has rapidly gained traction with its autonomous AI tools, denied wrongdoing, arguing that Amazon’s complaint reflects an attempt to protect its advertising-driven ecosystem. The company said user credentials are stored locally, not on its servers, and that consumers have the right to choose their preferred AI shopping assistants.
The legal clash highlights growing tension over how AI “agents” interact with commercial websites, as more startups develop tools that can make independent purchasing and navigation decisions. Amazon itself is developing similar automation tools, including its “Buy For Me” feature and “Rufus,” an AI shopping assistant.
