Amazon Kindle's Web View Blocks Perplexity AI Browser, Raising Digital Ownership Questions

Garry Tan, CEO of Y Combinator, recently expressed frustration on social media, stating that Amazon Kindle's web view prevents Perplexity AI's Comet browser from accessing the content of purchased e-books. Tan's tweet, which read, > "I am heartbroken to report that Kindle's web view blocks Perplexity Comet browser from reading the contents of a given e-book that I 'bought' Ruining my Friday night," highlights a growing tension between proprietary digital ecosystems and emerging AI-powered tools.

Perplexity Comet is an AI-first web browser designed to enhance user interaction with online content by providing advanced summarization, research, and automation capabilities. Built on the Chromium framework, Comet aims to allow users to "browse at the speed of thought" by leveraging its integrated AI assistant to understand and interact with web pages, including summarizing articles, managing emails, and automating tasks. Its core functionality relies on the ability to read and process content displayed within the browser.

Amazon's Kindle ecosystem operates under a strict digital rights management (DRM) policy, where e-books are licensed to users rather than sold outright. This licensing model grants users the right to view content solely through Kindle Software or supported devices, often preventing third-party applications from accessing or processing the underlying text. Recent changes, such as Amazon's decision in February 2025 to remove the option for users to download Kindle books via USB, further emphasize the company's control over its digital content.

This restriction on Perplexity Comet's access to Kindle content underscores broader concerns about digital ownership and interoperability in the tech landscape. As AI browsers become more sophisticated, their inability to interact with content locked within proprietary "walled gardens" like Kindle's web view could limit their utility and spark further debate over consumer rights to access and utilize content they have paid for, regardless of the viewing platform or tool. The incident highlights the ongoing challenge for AI innovation when encountering established digital ecosystems designed to maintain exclusive control over their content.