Tension Between Perplexity and Amazon Over AI Rights

In a recent confrontation, Aravind Srinivas, the CEO of Perplexity, responded decisively to a legal notice from Amazon. This notice seeks to prevent users of their AI-powered web browser, Comet, from utilizing their AI assistants on Amazon's platform. Srinivas highlighted the negative impact of such a restriction on users and expressed a desire for collaboration with Amazon to reach a “win-win” outcome.

On November 4, Perplexity revealed in a blog post that they received a significant legal threat from Amazon. The company described this notice as a broader threat to internet users, stating, “This week, Perplexity received an aggressive legal threat from Amazon, demanding we prohibit Comet users from using their AI assistants on Amazon.” This move is seen as Amazon's first legal action against an AI company, raising concerns about user rights.

Perplexity asserts that Amazon's intention is to limit users' ability to utilize their AI assistants for shopping, effectively blocking features where users can instruct the Comet Assistant to find and purchase products on Amazon. This capability allows users to save time by quickly locating items and comparing options, making the Comet Assistant a popular choice among users.

Srinivas further criticized Amazon's actions, claiming, “Amazon wants to eliminate user rights so that it can sell more ads and partner with AI agents designed to take advantage of users later.” He argued that this situation is not just corporate bullying but a significant threat to user freedom and choice within the AI landscape.

Despite the legal notice, Perplexity remains steadfast and committed to defending user rights. The company believes in the importance of user freedom and choice, stating, “The rise of agentic AI presents a choice.” Srinivas also reflected on Amazon's own history, reminding them that they too once faced similar challenges and fought for their users’ rights.

This incident highlights the ongoing tensions within the tech industry, particularly as smaller companies like Perplexity push back against larger corporations in the name of user autonomy. The outcome of this legal battle could have lasting implications for the future of AI and how users interact with technology.