Amazon wins ruling, as court tells Perplexity: Stop your Comet AI browser from making purchases on ...

A US court has ordered Perplexity AI to temporarily stop using its Comet AI browser agent to make purchases on Amazon's online marketplace. The decision comes as part of the companies' ongoing legal battle over the use of automated tools that make purchases on customers' behalf.According to a Bloomberg report, a federal court in San Francisco issued the order after Amazon filed a lawsuit in November 2025, accusing the artificial intelligence (AI) startup of computer fraud. Perplexity's Comet browser allegedly failed to properly disclose when it was shopping for a real user and persisted in using the platform even after Amazon requested that it cease.However, it's important to note that the decision is a temporary measure while the court considers broader legal questions surrounding automated shopping tools created by one company that interact with another company’s website without permission.

District Judge Maxine Chesney, who is presiding over the case, wrote in the order (seen by Bloomberg), "Amazon has provided strong evidence that Perplexity, through its Comet browser, accesses with the Amazon user’s permission but without authorization by Amazon, the user’s password-protected account.”

What Amazon said about court’s Perplexity ruling

In an emailed statement to Bloomberg, Amazon spokesperson Lara Hendrickson said, “The preliminary injunction will prevent Perplexity’s unauthorised access to the Amazon store and is an important step in maintaining a trusted shopping experience for Amazon customers.

We look forward to continuing to make our case in court.”The order directs Perplexity to stop accessing password-protected parts of Amazon’s systems, including Prime subscriber accounts, and to delete copies of Amazon’s data. The effect of the ruling has been paused for a week to allow Perplexity to file an appeal.The dispute reflects how courts are increasingly being asked to set boundaries for AI agents performing more complex tasks online on behalf of users, including shopping.

Wider use of such tools could affect the $350 billion US digital advertising market, where retailers and brands pay for visibility in Google and Amazon search results and on social media platforms.Amazon reported advertising revenue of $68.6 billion in 2025. Its founder, Jeff Bezos, is an investor in Perplexity, which was recently valued at $20 billion and has outlined plans to change web search and other online activities using AI-based tools, potentially impacting how digital advertising is conducted and altering the market's competitive landscape.