Amazon just told an AI startup to stop letting users shop with AI assistants. Here's what happened: Perplexity created an AI assistant that can shop Amazon for you. You ask for something, it finds it, buys it. Done. No scrolling through ads or sponsored products. Amazon sent them a legal threat this week. Stop it immediately. Their reason? They say it creates a poor shopping experience and bypasses their system. Perplexity's take? Amazon just wants to keep showing you ads. This matters because it's not really about shopping. It's about control. The big question: Should you be allowed to use YOUR AI assistant on ANY website you want? Or can companies block them? Think about it - you wouldn't let a store tell you that you can't bring your friend to help you shop. So why should they block your AI assistant? But Amazon has a point too. It's their store. They built it. Maybe they should decide who gets in. This fight is just beginning. And the outcome will determine whether AI works for us, or for big tech companies. We're watching the future being decided right now. Not in boardrooms or congress, but in legal battles between tech companies. What side are you on? Your right to use AI anywhere? Or a company's right to control their platform? The answer will shape how we all use the internet tomorrow. #AI #Amazon #innovation #futureoftech #ecommerce #userights #tech #digitaltransformation
We believe every user has the right to use the AI of their choice. Amazon wants to block Comet users from using AI assistants to shop on their platform, and they are now using legal threats to do so. But we will not be intimidated. https://lnkd.in/e3DfyU5c
“Significantly degraded experience” sounds like code for “we can’t track the spend.”
I wonder if they'll sue my virtual assistant if she shops on my behalf too?
I can't think of a lazier person than somebody who lets AI shop for them. I am sorry. This is not the "Wall-E" future yet.
it usually took me an entire day to shop what I wanted just looking around at a sea of never-ending offerings of products similar to what I wanted, but not exactly what I needed. If an AI agent can get me exactly what I need, of course I'm going to use it, I don't give a rat's ass about what that company want to advertise me or so, I just want to see in the search results what I asked to
The broader trend of data privacy concerns for consumers are really at display here. Unless Amazon and Perplexity were to enter into a formal agreement where terms and conditions are set, it is unknown where user shopper data is being stored in Perplexity's database. Likewise, this could be a ploy from Perplexity to enter into said partnership, especially given the comment made by the CEO. There is no doubt how AI can improve the lives of many, and make shopping more accessible, but clear disclosures is a must before people decide to lean on AI for automating their everyday life.
Isn’t it amusing? Both tech titans are in the business of cashing in on their platforms, yet they each have their own game plan. So, who ends up caught in their corporate control and crossfire? That poor consumer!
Exactly, if I send someone to do an errand for me... Well, basically, who's in charge of that decision? (These days that "someone" is increasingly going to be"agentic" AI!)
AI or not, every transaction still needs a clear paper trail.
This is a fascinating kerkuffle for our agentic futures.
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2wDon’t we already shop with Alexa without seeing ads?