Perplexity's Comet vs Amazon Agent Fight

Perplexity's Comet browser just won a legal battle that could change how we shop online. On Aug. 4, 2024 the Ninth Circuit vacated Amazon's order that blocked the agent from buying a coffee maker. Amazon argued the agent entered its site without authorization, but the court said user is the one who accesses it. The dispute matters because shoppers see only a list from an agent, not the full product range or ranking logic. In December 2025, a Consumer Reports test showed Safeway eggs priced from $3.99 to $4.79 depending on the shopper. That price gap moved value from shoppers to sellers, and only sellers could see the full range. Uber's 2023 dynamic pricing pushed passenger fares up while driver earnings fell from £22 to £19 after costs. Uber's share of fares rose from 25% to 29%, and on some trips it exceeded half. Policy moves are catching up: New York labels algorithm prices, and the EU's Platform Work Directive forces disclosure by Dec. 2, 2026.