Amazon has reportedly restricted Perplexity AI’s shopping bot from accessing its vast catalog of product listings, citing violations of data usage policies. The decision underscores escalating friction between major e-commerce platforms and artificial intelligence startups that rely on large-scale web data to train or power their generative tools.

Perplexity’s shopping bot was designed to help users compare products, analyze reviews, and generate personalized recommendations through conversational search. By drawing on public data, the bot could simplify decision-making for online shoppers by summarizing key product insights. However, Amazon’s move effectively cuts off Perplexity’s access to one of the world’s largest e-commerce databases, significantly impacting the tool’s retail intelligence capabilities.

According to industry sources, Amazon’s restriction stems from concerns over data scraping, commercial use of product listings, and the potential misuse of customer information. The company has long maintained strict rules prohibiting third-party services from repurposing its data without authorization. This latest action highlights Amazon’s firm stance on protecting its digital assets as generative AI tools increasingly rely on web-based information to deliver context-rich results.

The decision also reflects a growing industry debate over how AI companies source data from platforms that dominate online commerce. While startups like Perplexity argue that public data access drives innovation and improves user experiences, large marketplaces contend that uncontrolled data use could undermine privacy, accuracy, and fair competition.

Analysts suggest that the move could prompt other e-commerce giants to tighten access to their datasets as AI-driven search and recommendation tools become more sophisticated. For Perplexity, the block represents both a setback and a reminder of the regulatory and ethical boundaries shaping AI development in commercial environments.