Latest news with #ProjectMariner
Campaign ME
4 days ago
- Business
- Campaign ME
MENA industry reacts after Amazon abruptly exits Google Shopping Ads
Between July 21 and July 23, 2025, Amazon withdrew from virtually all Google Shopping auctions in major global markets, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany. The dramatic move was first brought into sharp public focus by Mohammed Sajjad, Chief Marketing and Digital Officer at Azadea Group, who wrote, 'Amazon didn't reduce bids. Didn't trial a new format. They vanished from approximately 60 per cent of Google Shopping auctions. Overnight. Global. Coordinated.' This development follows a 50 per cent reduction in Amazon's Google Shopping ad spend in the United States in May 2025, suggesting that the July move was the culmination of a carefully orchestrated strategy rather than an impulsive decision. Market backdrop and competitive signals Amazon's withdrawal comes just as holiday shopping ramps up, with 71 per cent of consumers expected to begin before Thanksgiving, up 18 per cent year-over-year. The timing could significantly reshape traffic flows during the industry's most critical quarter, compelling competitors to adapt their campaigns earlier and more aggressively. This move also follows key shifts in Google's advertising ecosystem. In late 2024, Google removed Performance Max's priority over Standard Shopping campaigns, diminishing the dominance of automated ad placements. Simultaneously, Google Lens began serving shopping ads within its 20 billion monthly visual searches, and Perplexity AI entered the market with a one-click, AI-powered shopping assistant. In this context, Amazon's move is widely viewed as a deliberate shift away from paying for visibility on Google, and toward controlling the entire product discovery journey themselves. As Sajjad puts it, 'Amazon didn't tweak a line item — they redrew the map.' Industry leaders weigh in The advertising and e-commerce world responded with a wave of analysis and speculation. Executives and digital leaders interpreted the withdrawal as a calculated signal of Amazon's evolving position in the digital advertising ecosystem. Faheem Ahmad, Head of Growth at Chalhoub Group, framed the move as a data-driven optimisation play with broader implications for ad strategy, saying, 'They presumably spent $50m per year on shopping ads, given a 600 million inventory size. That's $230 per product per day, which is huge. Amazon may only continue advertising its private-label inventory, which represents just 2 per cent of its SKUs.' Asim Shaikh, eCommerce and Digital Leader at iHerb, framed the withdrawal as a structural shift rather than a tactical change. 'I believe this isn't about bid strategy, it's a pure platform power shift. Amazon recently blocked Google's 'Project Mariner' crawler. If Google's AI models train on your content, and you're paying them for traffic? That's a bad deal not only for Amazon but for most established retailers,' Shaikh said. Shaikh added that Amazon likely wants to be 'the first step in search, not the last click'. Strategic tension with Google Faisal Dean, CEO of Assembly's MENA region, contextualised Amazon's withdrawal as part of a broader trend in their relationship with Google. 'This is not the first time Amazon has pulled back spend. However, this seems to be the most drastic to date,' he noted. Dean also pointed to the growing contradiction in Amazon's continued funding of a competitor that is building directly competitive capabilities. 'The strategic contradiction of funding your competitor has become more apparent as Google's AI-powered contextual answers and zero-click queries could put Amazon at risk of over-reliance,' he said. Dean added that while the decision likely includes considerations around MMM (marketing mix modeling), LTV-driven incrementality testing, and seasonality-driven investments, there may also be a forward-looking element at play. He said, 'This could potentially be a future-facing strategy to stop part-funding, both with advertising dollars and data, Google's feature rollouts announced earlier this year, which aim to improve the personalised shopping experience and close the loop within Google itself i.e., stepping onto Amazon's turf, as well as free up millions in advertising spend to re-invest into their own growing retail media offering'. A data-driven power move According to current third-party estimates, Amazon Prime has approximately 220 to 260 million paying members globally, with around 180 million in the United States alone. This accounts for nearly 75–80 per cent of all US households. For many Prime subscribers, the purchase journey starts and ends on Amazon, making Google and other search platforms increasingly irrelevant. As Rasha Hamzeh, Managing Director at the Inhouse Agency, put it, 'Owning discovery, ditching dependency, not a test but a territory grab. Or maybe Amazon's betting that customers no longer need to be acquired. Not fighting for clicks but optimising for loyalty.' Darine Sabbagh, GM of E-commerce at Chalhoub Group, added, 'At their scale, there's enough critical mass in the zMOT journey to just 'Amazon it,' rather than 'Google it' first. Staying on Google may have simply been a way to crowd others out.' Chris Bishop, Ecommerce Director at SQUATWOLF, framed the withdrawal as a defining industry moment, saying, 'The king is dead, long live the king. Amazon stepping back from Google Shopping isn't just a gap in the auction – it may be a once-in-a-cycle shift in category dynamics.' Bishop adds, 'While Amazon tests how far it can pull back from funding Google's coffers without losing its grip on the customer, especially in territories where it has long commanded a disproportionate share of wallet, this could be an Ehrenberg-Bass moment: double down on penetration, win light buyers, and build mental availability while the giant is, perhaps arrogantly, asleep at the wheel.' What's next? With CPCs down 20–40 per cent, competitors are already capturing market share in Amazon's absence. Whether Amazon's self-sufficiency gamble pays off, or simply creates space for rivals to reclaim paid search real estate, remains to be seen. Bilal Adham, Group Vice President of Digital at DP World, sees this as a familiar pattern. Adham said, 'We've seen similar tactics from Shein, Temu, and Alibaba — flooding Google listing ads early on, then pulling back once they'd built a pool of users.' But in Amazon's case, the implications may run deeper. He added, 'If you take a step back, are Amazon telling us they've reached the holy grail of ecommerce? Scale acquisition, then shift to trust, experience, and habit. With app installs, repeat sessions, logged-in users, and CRM, it reduces the need for paid discovery altogether, playing on loyalty and advocacy.' Adham ended with a sharp reflection, saying, 'Back in 2014, Eric Schmidt called Amazon 'Google's biggest search competitor.' For Amazon, that moment may have quietly arrived.' For now, one thing is clear: Amazon has signaled it no longer intends to play by Google's rules. Whether others follow may define the next era of digital commerce. Authored by Nasser Oudjidane, Co-founder and CEO at
Mint
18-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas on why Comet browser can beat Google's Project Mariner: ‘Expect them to copy…'
Perplexity AI CEO Aravind Srinivas has shared how the company's Comet browser plans to take on competition from Google's Project Mariner. Notably, Project Mariner is currently available only to Google's paying customers and brings many of the AI functionalities offered by new-generation generative AI browsers. Asked about the competition between Google and Perplexity during a Reddit AMA, Srinivas said, 'They have something called Project Mariner (behind a $250/mo plan, I believe) – similar but quite limited compared to the capabilities of Comet.' 'I expect them to pay close attention and copy/adopt stuff,' he added. Srinivas confirmed that Comet is built on Chromium and expressed that he is 'grateful' to Google for keeping it open-source. However, he criticised the company for being too bureaucratic and disjointed. 'It's a giant bureaucratic organisation right now with too many decision-makers and disjointed teams, and they have business model constraints on letting agents do the clicks and work for you while continuing to charge advertisers enormous money to keep bidding for clicks and conversions. At some point, they need to embrace one path and suffer, in order to come out stronger, rather than hedging and playing both ways,' Srinivas said. Perplexity launched the Comet browser earlier this month, and it is currently available only to paying users, while free users are being given access gradually via invites. Srinivas was also asked about when Perplexity plans to launch iOS and Android versions of the Comet browser. While he remained non-committal about the exact timeline for Android, he stated that iPhone users could see the new browser in the next two to three months. When asked if Comet will be available to free users, Srinivas said, 'Comet will be accessible for free users definitely. But the agentic search and personal/memory searches might be either rate-limited or exclusive to Pro/Max users. We haven't made any decisions yet. We need to first understand what's the spend per user in the initial cohort.'
Hans India
18-07-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Perplexity CEO Criticizes Google's Ad-Driven Model, Sparks New AI Browser War
Perplexity AI CEO Aravind Srinivas is turning up the heat on tech giant Google as the competition for AI-driven browsers intensifies. In a candid Reddit AMA session, Srinivas did not mince words, calling Google a 'giant bureaucratic organisation' and warning that its deep-rooted reliance on advertising could ultimately hinder its progress in the AI space. Srinivas emphasized a shifting paradigm in how users will interact with the internet, one where intelligent digital agents take over tasks like searching, browsing, and summarising — a move that, he suggested, clashes directly with Google's click-and-ad-driven revenue model. 'At some point, they need to embrace one path and suffer, in order to come out stronger,' he said. Despite Google's internal efforts, including its AI browser initiative 'Project Mariner,' Srinivas claims that legacy monetisation strategies continue to stall real innovation. In contrast, Perplexity is advancing boldly with Comet, its new AI-native browser launched on July 9. Currently available by invitation to users on its premium plan — priced at $200 per month or $2,000 annually — Comet is built to serve users, not advertisers. A free version is reportedly in development. Perplexity recently struck a major partnership in India, where telecom giant Airtel is offering complimentary access to Perplexity Pro for one year to its customers. The company's core pitch is straightforward: Let AI do the hard work so users can make decisions more efficiently — no more endless tabs and distractions. According to Srinivas, this 'agent-first' approach is what sets them apart from traditional browsers, especially one like Google, which made $198 billion last year from search advertising alone. Srinivas also pointed to Google's internal structure as a key bottleneck. 'Too many decision makers and disjoint teams,' he said, adding that smaller, focused teams like his can move faster and innovate better. While Comet is built on Chromium — the open-source browser engine maintained by Google — Perplexity insists its purpose is fundamentally different. The company is laser-focused on user experience, not ad revenue. Srinivas admitted they initially underestimated users' willingness to pay for an ad-free browsing experience. But early demand for Comet's premium tier, he said, proves that 'people are ready to pay for utility and independence.' Speaking at a Y Combinator event in June, Srinivas acknowledged the likelihood of being copied. 'If your company is something that can make revenue on the scale of hundreds of millions of dollars or potentially billions, you should always assume a model company will copy it.' He believes Google is already moving in that direction with Project Mariner, though he labeled it 'similar but quite limited.' That, he argued, reflects a reactive, not proactive, approach to innovation. Perplexity's Head of Communications, Jesse Dwyer, echoed these concerns in a statement to Business Insider, warning that dominant tech firms often try to "drown your voice" when smaller competitors disrupt their space. 'Browser War III,' he said, might lead to negative consequences for consumers if monopolistic tactics win out again. Despite all the sharp critiques, Srinivas did acknowledge the role Chromium played in making Comet possible. But his message was clear: Perplexity is betting on a future where AI agents work for people — not profit models. 'Enough of the monopoly of Google,' Srinivas concluded.
India Today
18-07-2025
- Business
- India Today
Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas dares Google to pick a side as AI browser battle heats up
In a fiery Reddit "Ask Me Anything" session, Perplexity AI CEO Aravind Srinivas didn't hold back in his assessment of Google's future, or lack thereof, in the evolving landscape of AI-powered web browsing. As tech giants race to redefine the internet experience with smarter browsers and agent-driven search, Srinivas suggested Google's reliance on ad-based search could soon become its Achilles' a looming shift in how users interact with the web, Srinivas painted a picture of a future where digital agents handle everything from browsing to decision-making. That, he argued, leaves little room for Google's tried-and-tested business model that revolves around showing ads and racking up clicks. In his words, Google will face 'business model constraints' when it comes to letting AI agents 'do the clicks and work for you', all while maintaining high ad Google's own moves in the AI browser space, such as the internally developed 'Project Mariner', Srinivas said their progress is hampered by an inability to let go of legacy monetisation strategies. In what could be interpreted as both advice and warning, he remarked, 'At some point, they need to embrace one path and suffer, in order to come out stronger.' Srinivas's company, Perplexity, is taking the fight straight to Big Tech with its offering, Comet, an AI-native browser launched on July 9. It's currently only available via invitation to users of Perplexity's premium plan, which costs $200 (approximately Rs 17,230) per month or $2,000 (approximately Rs 1,72,300) per year. A free version, however, is in the pipeline. And now, Airtel has also announced a new offer for its customers across India, giving them complimentary access to the Perplexity Pro subscription plan for one CEO Aravind Srinivas subtle dig at GooglePerplexity's pitch is simple: let the browser do the heavy lifting — searching, comparing, summarising — so humans can focus on decisions, not digging through a dozen tabs. This agent-first approach, Srinivas believes, is the future. But it's one he says Google is reluctant to fully embrace, because doing so would undermine the ad model that generated $198 billion in search revenue alone last contrast to Google's scale, Perplexity is a scrappy upstart with a lean team. Leonid Persiantsev, Comet's product lead, said the team is kept deliberately small to remain agile, a subtle dig at what Srinivas characterised as Google's bloated bureaucracy. 'Too many decision makers and disjoint teams,' he wrote, calling out what he sees as an organisational sluggishness holding Google Perplexity owes a debt to Chromium, the open-source browser engine maintained by Google, the company insists it is building with a different priority: users, not also revealed that the company initially underestimated how willing people would be to pay for a browser experience free of intrusive ads and distractions. The early demand for Comet's premium tier, he said, proved that 'people are ready to pay for utility and independence.'The Perplexity chief also touched on the inevitability of being copied by larger players. At a Y Combinator event in June, he noted, 'If your company is something that can make revenue on the scale of hundreds of millions of dollars or potentially billions, you should always assume a model company will copy it.'Indeed, Srinivas expects Google to pay close attention to Comet and eventually replicate its features. He pointed to Project Mariner as 'similar but quite limited,' suggesting that innovation at Google tends to be reactive rather than head of communications, Jesse Dwyer, echoed that sentiment in a statement to Business Insider, saying bigger firms not only borrow ideas but 'do everything they can to drown your voice.' He added that the so-called 'Browser War III' could end poorly for users if monopolistic tactics from 'everything companies' prevail the shots fired, Srinivas was magnanimous in at least one regard. He acknowledged that without Chromium, Comet wouldn't exist. But even so, he said Perplexity is betting on a different vision, one where AI agents serve people, not profit models.'Enough of the monopoly of Google,' he said. - Ends
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas says Google ‘a giant bureaucratic organization': ‘At some point, they need to…'
Aravind Srinivas, CEO and cofounder of Perplexity AI Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas recently took an aim at Google saying their core business model is not built for the AI-driven future of web browsing. In a Reddit "Ask Me Anything" on July 16, Srinivas said that Google's reliance on ads is at odds with AI agents. He wrote 'They have business model constraints on letting agents do the clicks and work for you while continuing to charge advertisers enormous money to keep bidding for clicks and conversions'. Stating that the tech giant is constrained by its need to protect ad revenue, he said 'At some point, they need to embrace one path and suffer, in order to come out stronger; rather than hedging and playing both ways'. Google is a giant bureaucratic organization: Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas also criticized Google's internal structure, calling it 'a giant bureaucratic organization' with 'too many decision makers and disjoint teams.' Srinivas, during the AMA session, said that he expects Google to "pay close attention" and eventually copy or adopt features from Comet – the company's AI-powered web browser. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Greatest Female Singers, Ranked Drivepedia Undo At a Y Combinator event in June, Perplexity CEO said 'If your company is something that can make revenue on the scale of hundreds of millions of dollars or potentially billions of dollars, you should always assume that a model company will copy it'. Aravind Srinivas also referred to Google's internal Project Mariner as 'similar but quite limited.' He said the browser is designed to prioritize users, not advertisers. Stating that 'We underestimated people's willingness to pay,' he added that 'We also want to bring a change to this world. Enough of the monopoly of Google'. Comet is currently available by invitation and only to users of Perplexity's top-tier plan, priced at $200/month or $2,000/year. A free version is planned. Despite his criticism, Srinivas acknowledged the browser wouldn't be possible without Chromium, the open-source project maintained by Google. Bill Gates No Longer among Top 10 Billionaires: The Real Reason AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
