The Digital Press

Software agents, or AI systems acting autonomously on behalf of users, face significant technical, legal, and competitive challenges that hinder their widespread adoption. Amazon recently blocked Perplexity's AI browser from making automated purchases, highlighting tensions over control, liability, and the role of AI as labor.

Why it matters: AI agents could reshape commerce by automating tasks, but companies resist losing control over customer interactions and data.

The stakes: Legal ambiguity around AI liability and unauthorized data use threatens AI companies and service providers alike.

The big picture: Despite industry hype, AI agents struggle with real-world limitations, user resistance, and operational inefficiencies.

Commenters say: Many express skepticism about AI replacing human labor fully, emphasizing unresolved legal issues and the importance of human oversight.