Amazon sends legal threats to Perplexity over agentic browsing

Core Argument - Amazon has issued a cease-and-desist letter to Perplexity, demanding the removal of its AI shopping assistant, Comet, from its platform, marking a significant legal action against an AI company [1][4] Group 1: Amazon's Position - Amazon argues that third-party agents must identify themselves when acting on behalf of users, similar to how food delivery and travel booking services operate [3][5] - The company suggests that Perplexity could comply by identifying its agent, which would allow it to continue shopping on Amazon [4] - Amazon's stance implies that it seeks to maintain control over its platform and the interactions that occur within it, particularly regarding advertising and product placements [5] Group 2: Perplexity's Defense - Perplexity contends that its AI acts under the same permissions as human users, thus not requiring identification as an agent [2] - The company claims that Amazon's actions are a threat to internet users and innovation, framing the legal threat as bullying [1] - Perplexity's previous controversies regarding web scraping have led to a defense from supporters who argue that its behavior is akin to that of human-operated web browsers [8][9] Group 3: Industry Implications - The conflict between Amazon and Perplexity may set a precedent for how AI agents interact with e-commerce platforms, potentially influencing future regulations and practices in the industry [9] - The situation raises questions about the future of bot interactions with websites and whether companies will need to adapt to accommodate AI-driven shopping [9]