In a recent development, Amazon has reportedly blocked Perplexity AI’s shopping bot from accessing its vast e-commerce platform. The move comes as part of Amazon’s effort to safeguard its proprietary product data and customer information from being scraped or reused by external AI systems without authorization.

Data Protection at the Core of Amazon’s Decision

According to sources familiar with the matter, Amazon detected the Perplexity bot attempting to collect product listings, prices, and customer reviews—information that forms the backbone of the retailer’s competitive edge. Amazon considers such scraping a violation of its terms of service and has implemented measures to restrict automated data collection tools from interacting with its website.

Perplexity’s AI Strategy Faces Pushback

Perplexity AI, known for its conversational search engine that combines real-time internet data with AI responses, has been expanding into shopping assistance. However, the company’s growing use of external web data has drawn scrutiny from several online platforms concerned about content misuse and competitive implications.

Broader Industry Tensions on Data Usage

The clash between Amazon and Perplexity highlights a broader tension between AI companies and content owners over data usage. As generative AI models increasingly rely on scraping large volumes of web information, major platforms are tightening access and demanding clearer compliance with data policies and intellectual property rights.

Amazon Emphasizes Fair Use and Platform Integrity

An Amazon spokesperson emphasized that the company welcomes innovation but will continue to enforce its rules to ensure that third-party tools operate responsibly. “We are committed to protecting our customers’ experience and the integrity of our store,” the spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, Perplexity AI has not issued an official response but is expected to clarify its data sourcing practices following this move.

Future Implications for AI Data Partnerships

The dispute could influence how AI firms source e-commerce data going forward. Experts believe that companies like Perplexity may need to establish official data licensing agreements rather than rely on open scraping techniques. As AI-assisted shopping continues to evolve, the balance between innovation and data ownership remains a pressing challenge.