Amazon has sued Perplexity AI over its “agentic” shopping tool, alleging that Perplexity’s browser-based AI agent (called Comet) covertly accessed Amazon customer accounts, disguised automated purchasing activity as human browsing, and thereby breached Amazon’s platform rules and terms of service. The filing is said to have been lodged in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.
what does 'agentic' shopping tool do?
An agentic shopping tool is an AI-powered assistant that automatically searches, compares, and purchases products online on behalf of users. It understands user preferences, budgets, and needs, then makes personalized recommendations or completes transactions autonomously — saving time and ensuring smarter, data-driven shopping decisions.
why it 'agentic' shopping tool disrupt the amazon work process
An agentic shopping tool disrupts Amazon’s work process by shifting control from the platform to the user. Instead of relying on Amazon’s search rankings, ads, or product recommendations, users let AI agents find the best deals across multiple platforms automatically. This reduces Amazon’s influence over consumer choices, ad revenue, and purchase flow, weakening its marketplace dominance.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Amazon’s lawsuit against Perplexity highlights the growing tension between e-commerce giants and emerging AI-driven tools that challenge traditional online retail models. The “agentic” shopping tool represents a major shift toward autonomous, user-centric purchasing, where AI agents make decisions independently of platform algorithms. While this innovation enhances shopping efficiency and personalization for consumers, it also threatens established platforms like Amazon by undermining their control over product visibility, advertising revenue, and user engagement. The case underscores the complex balance between technological advancement, data privacy, and corporate regulation in the evolving digital marketplace.
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