Amazon Demands Removal of AI Agent Comet from Online Store

Amazon has demanded that Perplexity remove its browser with an integrated AI agent from its online store.
After repeated warnings that Comet violates terms of service and fails to identify itself as a digital assistant, the e-commerce giant issued a “stern” demand to cease operations.

“This week, Perplexity received an aggressive legal threat from Amazon demanding that Comet users be prohibited from using their AI-based assistants on the online store’s website. This marks the first legal attack by the e-commerce giant against an AI company,” stated the startup’s blog.

Perplexity argues that if an assistant acts under human direction, it automatically inherits human rights. Therefore, it does not need to identify itself as AI.
Amazon responded that other agents do so.

“Third-party assistants like Comet from Perplexity have the same obligations, and we have repeatedly requested the removal of Amazon from Comet, especially given the significant deterioration in shopping quality and customer service it provides,” said the e-commerce giant’s statement.

Amazon Seeks Sales

Perplexity believes that the requirement to identify AI agents is driven by competition. Amazon has its own shopping bot, Rufus, making it advantageous for the company to restrict access to other virtual agents.

“We believe that third-party applications offering to shop on behalf of other companies’ customers should operate transparently and respect service providers’ decisions on whether to participate,” stated Amazon.

Perplexity claims that the internet giant may block the shopping bot because the company needs to sell ads and place products. Unlike a human, an AI agent tasked with buying a specific laundry basket will not opt for a more expensive one or be tempted to purchase a new set of headphones.

“They are more interested in showing you ads, promoted listings, and influencing purchasing decisions through upselling and confusing offers,” stated the AI startup.

To Identify or Not?

In August, Cloudflare published a study accusing Perplexity of scraping sites and ignoring requests blocking AI bots. The startup employed some questionable methods to gain access, such as concealing its identity when a web resource prohibited script operation.
The incident foreshadowed potential challenges the world of AI agents might face in the future. As users begin to delegate the right to make purchases or book hotels and restaurants to automated systems, the question inevitably arises—how justified are the blockades of such agents, and what should the correct interaction protocol look like?
Perplexity described Amazon’s action as a precedent threatening users.

“For the past 50 years, software has been a tool, like a wrench in the user’s hand. But with the advent of agent-based artificial intelligence, it also becomes a workforce: an assistant, an employee, an agent. The law clearly states that large corporations have no right to prohibit owning wrenches,” stated the startup’s blog.