Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN) has filed a lawsuit against Perplexity AI, escalating a dispute over the use of autonomous browsing tools on its retail platform. The US group claims the startup’s AI agent, known as Comet, violates its terms by making purchases on behalf of users without disclosure.
Filed in a San Francisco court, the case accuses Perplexity of computer fraud and bypassing Amazon’s security measures. The company argues Comet’s covert activity creates privacy risks and degrades the shopping experience.
Perplexity, now valued at $20 billion, denies wrongdoing. A spokesperson said Amazon is trying to suppress competition, calling the legal action “a bully tactic to scare disruptive companies.”
The case highlights growing tension over so-called agentic AI — tools that can perform real-world tasks such as shopping. Amazon is developing its own systems, but says rivals must operate transparently.
Comet reportedly accessed users’ Amazon accounts disguised as a Chrome browser. Amazon said it repeatedly asked Perplexity to stop, without success.