Perplexity responds to Amazon’s cease-and-desist notice, says ‘bullying is not innovation’

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Perplexity AI has publicly rejected a cease-and-desist notice from Amazon, accusing the e-commerce giant of attempting to stifle competition and innovation. The legal notice, sent by Amazon, demanded that Perplexity block its AI agent on the Comet browser from making purchases on its platform, citing what it called a “degraded shopping experience.”

In a strongly worded open letter titled “Bullying is Not Innovation,” Perplexity said Amazon’s action represents an attempt to restrict user choice and control over AI tools. The company argued that the legal threat reflects a growing tension between emerging AI assistants and established online platforms.

Amazon’s legal notice
According to Amazon, third-party apps such as Perplexity’s Comet browser should not make purchases on behalf of users without the company’s consent. Amazon claimed such tools disrupt its intended user experience and transparency. “Third-party apps making purchases for users should operate transparently and respect businesses’ decisions on whether to participate,” Amazon said in a statement, emphasizing that Perplexity’s operations breached its guidelines.

Perplexity’s response
Perplexity dismissed Amazon’s claims and called the notice “a form of intimidation.” The startup said its Comet browser enables users to delegate shopping and comparison tasks to an AI assistant, which stores credentials securely on the user’s device rather than on company servers.
“Amazon doesn’t care about easier shopping or happier customers — it’s more interested in serving ads,” Perplexity said in its letter. The company framed the dispute as a fight for user freedom, asserting that users should have the right to choose AI tools that act on their behalf.

The confrontation marks one of the first high-profile clashes between a major tech company and an AI assistant developer. Perplexity claims that Amazon’s notice shows Big Tech’s discomfort with independent AI systems that empower users. “Perhaps Amazon has forgotten how it got so big,” Perplexity wrote, adding that innovation should empower people, not corporations.