Amazon sued startup Perplexity AI in November, accusing it of secretly obtaining Amazon customer account data and placing orders on behalf of users through its “smart agent” shopping feature, which uses automation technology to simulate human browsing.

The complaint states that Perplexity used its Comet browser and associated AI assistants to access user data without authorization, deliberately disguising automated actions as human behavior to evade detection. Amazon asserts that the company's system poses a risk to customer data security and had repeatedly warned Perplexity to cease such operations, but received no response.

Amazon further emphasized in the complaint: “This misconduct must be stopped. Actions explicitly prohibited do not become lawful simply because they use code instead of physical tools.”

Previously, Perplexity acknowledged receiving Amazon's legal warning demanding it halt Comet AI assistant shopping on Amazon, claiming the allegations pose a broad threat to user choice and the future development of AI assistants.

In a public statement titled “Bullying Is Not Innovation,” Perplexity accused Amazon of leveraging its scale to suppress potential competitors, stressing that users should retain the right to shop on Amazon based on personal preference: “This is a bullying tactic designed to intimidate companies like Perplexity that are committed to bringing disruptive improvements to people's lives.”

Perplexity countered that since its AI assistant acts on human users' instructions, it possesses the same permissions as human users and requires no special designation as an AI.

Amazon contends that Perplexity's AI assistant disrupts its ability to deliver decades of personalized shopping experiences and harms customer satisfaction. The company stated that third-party applications making purchases on behalf of users must operate transparently and respect businesses' choice to participate.

Perplexity is one of several startups in recent years focused on reshaping the browser experience through AI, aiming to empower browsers to autonomously assist users with daily online tasks like composing emails and purchasing goods. Amazon itself is developing similar capabilities, such as its cross-store shopping tool “Buy for Me” and the AI assistant “Rufus,” which recommends products and manages shopping carts.

Perplexity stated that its AI assistant on the Comet browser can help users complete purchases and compare prices, emphasizing that all user credentials are stored solely on local devices and are never uploaded to the company's servers.

In the lawsuit, Amazon seeks preliminary, temporary, and permanent injunctions prohibiting Perplexity and its affiliates from using AI agents to access Amazon systems without authorization. It also demands compensatory damages, statutory damages, and punitive damages (amounts to be determined at trial), along with the destruction of all illegally obtained Amazon data, disclosure of all accessed Amazon accounts, and compliance with court orders.

Attached: Complaint：

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