What is the "DoorDash problem" in AI?

The "DoorDash problem" refers to how AI agents could bypass customer relationships, eliminating revenue from ads, loyalty programs, and upsells for service providers.

Why did Amazon sue Perplexity?

Amazon sued Perplexity to stop its AI browser from scraping its site, viewing it as a violation of terms of service and a threat to its business model.

How could AI agents change the internet economy?

AI agents could transform the internet by reducing businesses to commodity providers, fundamentally altering how services are accessed and monetized.

Home / Technology / Amazon vs. AI: Who Owns the Web?

Amazon vs. AI: Who Owns the Web?

20 Nov, 2025

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Summary

AI agents could bypass user reviews, ads, and loyalty programs.
Amazon sued Perplexity, escalating the AI agent web battle.
Service companies fear becoming commodity databases, losing revenue.

The emergence of AI agents poses a significant threat to the current internet economy, often termed the "DoorDash problem." These agents could bypass essential revenue streams for companies like Uber, Airbnb, and DoorDash, such as user reviews, ads, and loyalty programs, potentially reducing them to mere commodity providers.

This issue has now escalated to a major legal confrontation, with Amazon suing AI search engine Perplexity. Amazon aims to prevent Perplexity's AI-powered browser from scraping its site, a move Perplexity calls "bullying." This lawsuit signifies the beginning of a fight over control of online commerce and user experience.

While some CEOs express confidence in brand loyalty and existing infrastructure, others acknowledge the disruption. The core challenge remains: ensuring that the labor and services underpinning these platforms are economically viable as AI agents become more prevalent, preventing the collapse of the services they rely on.