Amazon launches Alexa for Shopping, a new AI assistant that can shop for you
Amazon introduces a new AI for its e-commerce platform. It will assist you in shopping like a known shopkeeper. Here is all we know about the AI.
Amazon is turning its e-commerce platform into more of a local shop. Why do you visit your local grocery shop? It could be because the salesperson knows what you bought earlier, what your brand preferences are, and your shopping habits. Amazon is trying to do the same, but not employing a human assistant, but rather with an AI.
The e-commerce giant announced a new artificial intelligence-powered shopping assistant called “Alexa for Shopping.” Currently, the company has the Rufus AI tool to assist, but the upcoming AI tool will have the capabilities of Rufus AI and Alexa Plus. The company says the new assistant is designed to make online shopping more conversational and personalised by combining product knowledge, shopping history, and AI-powered automation into a single experience.
Notably, the new feature is rolling out to users in the US. When it will be available for the other market remains under wraps for now. However, the US users can access it through the Amazon Shopping app, Amazon’s website, and Echo Show devices. Unlike Alexa Plus, users do not need a Prime membership or an Echo device to access the feature.
What Alexa for Shopping can do
According to Amazon, Alexa for Shopping can answer product-related questions directly from the main Amazon search bar, compare multiple products side by side, show AI-generated summaries for product categories, and even track price history for up to a year.
Instead of typing, you can just talk and ask natural-language questions such as “Which laptop is better for college students?” or “When did I last order AA batteries?” And the AI is there for you.
The AI assistant can also automate routine shopping tasks. So, you can simply ask it to restock groceries or add frequently purchased products to the cart, or notify you when a product’s price comes down. And it will do the task accordingly.
Amazon says the AI can even handle purchases from other retailers through its “Shop Direct” feature, while the “Buy for Me” capability can complete purchases automatically using saved payment and delivery information.
Amazon wants shopping to feel more personal
Amazon says the assistant becomes more useful over time by learning from users’ shopping habits, conversations, and preferences across Alexa-enabled devices and Amazon’s ecosystem. For example, if you previously discussed buying gifts or household products with Alexa, the assistant can later suggest relevant items or reminders inside the shopping app.
The company is also positioning the feature as a more proactive shopping assistant rather than just a chatbot. Users can create scheduled actions like monthly grocery reminders, automatic deal tracking, or notifications for new book releases from favourite authors.