19:05Machine-translated from Azerbaijani by AIRead in Azerbaijani
Amazon Introduces Text-Based Ordering Through Alexa Shopping Assistant
On November 6, Amazon began testing a new feature for its Alexa for Shopping assistant in the US. Selected customers can purchase products by texting the assistant. All they need to do is describe the product they want in ordinary words or send a photo of it. The artificial intelligence finds relevant product pages, sends recommendations by text and places the order on the customer’s behalf.
The feature handles various requests, from ordering weekly groceries to choosing a gift. Users can also search for an item or article of clothing similar to one in a photo. Alexa for Shopping compares products, adds selected items to the cart and completes the order. The assistant also manages shopping lists, searches the internet and checks the status of orders.
The assistant will appear as Amazon Alexa in the phone’s contacts. Over time, Alexa for Shopping will remember the user’s preferences and tailor future recommendations accordingly. For example, someone who frequently searches for vegan products will be shown more options of this kind. The system will check the prices of tracked products and available discounts and send a message when the price drops.
The feature will initially be available to a small group of customers in the US. Selected individuals will receive an invitation by text to join, while those who do not receive an invitation will be able to join a waitlist. Amazon says the feature will become available to millions more customers in the coming weeks. The company plans to roll out the new feature more widely before the holiday shopping season.
The text messaging feature complements the shopping-focused Alexa capabilities that Amazon launched in May. The goal is to make it easier to place orders by text when accessing the app or website is inconvenient. In September, Amazon blocked the Meta-owned Muse assistant from searching its website. The company is now promoting its own artificial intelligence assistant for product purchases.
Text-based artificial intelligence assistants are also becoming more widespread across other services. Last month, OpenAI introduced the ability to send messages to a personal assistant called Dot. In September, DoorDash launched Ask DoorDash, a feature that provides food recommendations and accepts orders. According to the company, third-party assistants have placed only hundreds of orders on the platform to date. DoorDash will therefore focus on developing its own solution.