I’ve just learned that Perplexity AI’s Comet browser agent can no longer make purchases on Amazon. This decision comes after a federal judge ruled in Amazon’s favor, expressing concerns about AI shopping bots.
Why this matters to us. The ruling challenges AI’s ability to simplify tasks, such as online shopping, by acting on our behalf. If similar restrictions are enacted, AI agents might face significant hurdles when trying to access logged-in areas of popular platforms.
The situation as it unfolded. U.S. District Judge Maxine Chesney in San Francisco issued a preliminary injunction, favoring Amazon’s position.
- Perplexity is now prohibited from using Comet to enter password-protected sections of Amazon, like those reserved for Prime members.
- Judge Chesney noted Amazon’s “strong evidence” indicating Comet’s access was granted by users but not authorized by Amazon itself.
- The court order also mandates that Perplexity must eliminate all Amazon data it has gathered.
Getting up to speed. Back in November, Amazon filed a lawsuit against Perplexity, accusing it of computer fraud and unauthorized platform access. Allegedly, Comet completed purchases on user accounts without properly identifying itself as a bot.
Next steps. There’s a one-week suspension on the order, giving Perplexity the chance to appeal.
What Amazon says. According to Lara Hendrickson, an Amazon spokesperson, this injunction is crucial for stopping Perplexity’s unauthorized Amazon access and is a vital move towards maintaining trust for customers.
Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.
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