Amazon has filed a lawsuit against Perplexity AI to prevent the startup’s Comet browser agent from making purchases on its platform. The case, filed in San Francisco federal court accuses Perplexity of computer fraud for failing to disclose when its AI agent shops on behalf of users, violating Amazon’s terms of service.
The lawsuit follows a cease-and-desist letter Amazon sent to Perplexity on October 31. According to Amazon, Perplexity initially complied with a request in November 2024 to stop deploying AI agents on its site. However, by August 2025, Perplexity launched Comet, which logged into users’ Amazon accounts while identifying itself as a Google Chrome browser. When Amazon attempted to block the agents, Perplexity released a new version to circumvent the security measures.
Amazon argues that third-party applications should operate transparently and respect service provider decisions. The company claims Comet degrades the shopping experience by lacking personalization and accurate delivery information. Amazon spokesperson Lara Hendrickson stated that Perplexity should have “the same obligations” as other third-party services like food delivery apps.
Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas called the lawsuit “a bully tactic” and defended users’ rights to choose their preferred shopping assistant. He argued that AI agents should have “all the same rights and responsibilities” as human users.
The case may establish important precedents for how AI agents can interact with online platforms. Amazon is developing its own AI shopping tools, including Rufus and Buy For Me, while Perplexity is valued at $20 billion.
