I’ve spent over a decade hunting deals. From my start at the now defunct bargain-site Thrifter to covering hundreds of discounts here at Windows Central, my job is a constant effort to make sure you don’t get ripped off.
I’m also usually the first person to call out "AI slop" and warn you about the risks of automation. So, you might be surprised to see me defending an AI tool that could technically threaten my own livelihood.
But when a federal judge recently blocked the Perplexity-backed Comet browser from shopping on behalf of users, I didn't see a victory for human workers. I saw a massive corporation successfully lobbying to keep you trapped inside its walled garden.
The court sided with Amazon, but the real loser is anyone tired of sifting through "Sponsored" junk just to find an honest price.
The 'Authorization' Trap
The legal drama centers on a simple premise: Amazon claims Perplexity’s AI agents didn't have "authorization" to access customer accounts. At a glance, that sounds like a win for security. We don’t want rogue bots logging into our accounts and draining our bank balances.
Except that’s not what happened.
The users gave Comet permission. The users wanted the bot to make the purchase The "lack of authorization" isn't coming from the account holder; it’s coming from Amazon.
The court didn't just side with Amazon; it directed Perplexity to "destroy all copies of Amazon’s data, including customer data." That phrasing should make your skin crawl. Since when is your customer data solely "Amazon's data"?
I’m not a lawyer, but you don't need to be one to see the hypocrisy. Amazon is perfectly happy to let automation buy products if that automation is named Alexa. They aren't against automated buying; they’re against any automation they don’t own and monetize.
Why Amazon is terrified of AI shopping
I know that a 40% discount can’t fix a laptop with a thermal throttling problem or a sub-par screen. Our team provides context. We tell you if a deal is actually a dud.
But power users and enthusiasts? They've done the research, they know the exact specs they want, and they know the price they should pay. They should be able to use a tool that notes a price drop and makes a purchase instantly.
Perplexity put it bluntly in a recent blog post:
"Amazon wants to eliminate user rights so that it can sell more ads right now and partner with AI agents designed to take advantage of users later. It’s not just bullying, it’s bonkers."
Amazon’s business model is increasingly reliant on making you scroll past rows of "Promoted" garbage before you find the item you actually searched for. An AI agent like the one in Comet bypasses the ads and the "Suggested for you" items.
The Bottom Line
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has claimed the company expects to partner with third-party agents eventually. But their actions in court tell a different story. By gatekeeping the "buy" button, Amazon is ensuring that the only AI allowed to help you shop is the one programmed to maximize Amazon's margins, not your savings.
If I have to choose between a bot that does what I tell it to do and a retail giant that treats my own account access as its private intellectual property, I’m siding with the bot every time.
🗨️ Should AI be allowed to shop for you?
Should you have the right to hand your "keys" to an AI agent if it saves you money, or is Amazon right to keep third-party bots out of your account for "security" reasons? I want to hear if you’d trust an AI to shop for you. Let's chat in the comments!
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