Perplexity shopping bot not welcome at Amazon shop

Core Points - Amazon has issued a cease-and-desist letter to Perplexity, demanding the cessation of its AI shopping bot, Comet, which is accused of degrading the shopping experience and violating terms of service [2][4] - Perplexity claims that Amazon is employing "bully tactics" to deter innovation in shopping technology, asserting that Comet is designed to enhance user experience [3][4] - Amazon is developing its own AI shopping agents and argues that Perplexity's bot is making errors in personalized recommendations and delivery times [2][4] Company Actions - Amazon's legal action against Perplexity sets the stage for a potential lawsuit if Comet continues its operations [2] - The company emphasizes that Perplexity's bot is not transparent in its shopping practices and is gaining unauthorized access to Amazon's platform [4] Industry Context - Perplexity is valued at approximately $20 billion and is part of a growing sector focused on AI agents that assist with online tasks [4] - Other tech companies, such as OpenAI, are also entering the AI shopping space, with new capabilities expected in major web browsers like Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge [6]