Perplexity published on November 4, 2025 that it received a legal threat from Amazon asking to block the use of AI assistants (Comet) on its platform. What looks like a technical dispute is actually a fight over user rights, privacy and who controls the online shopping experience.
What happened
Perplexity says Amazon asked to prohibit user assistants from accessing and buying on Amazon on behalf of the people who use them. In practice it’s simple: you ask your Comet assistant to search, compare and buy a product while you’re logged in. The credentials are, according to Perplexity, stored locally on your device, not on their servers.
Why did Amazon react? Perplexity points to a clear motive: keeping users inside an ecosystem monetized by ads, sponsored results and upsells. In other words, less autonomy for you and more commercial control for the platform.
Why this matters to you
Can you imagine delegating routine tasks to an assistant and suddenly not being able to use it where you shop? That convenience—saving time and reducing friction—is what’s at stake. For many people and small businesses, an agent acting with your permission is net productivity.
