Artificial Intelligence1 min read

Amazon will let you text Alexa your shopping list

By · Via The Verge · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The capability builds directly on the Alexa for Shopping experience that the company first introduced in May. In addition to handling recommendations and placing orders, the assistant tracks pricing changes to alert users when saved items go on sale. The text-based service begins testing with a select group of U.S. customers before expanding to millions more in the coming weeks.

Key points

  • Amazon is reducing purchase friction by shifting e-commerce interactions from its main ap…: Amazon is reducing purchase friction by shifting e-commerce interactions from its main app into basic text messaging.
  • Alexa monitors item prices and sends automatic text alerts when watched products become d…: Alexa monitors item prices and sends automatic text alerts when watched products become discounted.
  • The move aligns with similar conversational SMS initiatives recently launched by tech com…: The move aligns with similar conversational SMS initiatives recently launched by tech competitors like OpenAI and DoorDash.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Amazon is adding a new feature to Alexa for Shopping that allows customers to purchase items by texting the AI shopping assistant. Users can describe the products they’re looking to buy and/or provide a photograph of the item, and Alexa for Shopping will search for matching results in Amazon listings, text back with recommendations, and order the item on the users’ behalf.

Amazon will let you text Alexa your shopping list

The Alexa for Shopping AI assistant can now order groceries and recommend products over text messages.

The Alexa for Shopping AI assistant can now order groceries and recommend products over text messages.

This launch builds on the existing Alexa for Shopping experience that launched in May, allowing users to place orders during moments where texting is more convenient than using Amazon’s app or website. The contact will appear in your phone as “Amazon Alexa,” and can be used for a wide range of shopping requests, including ordering weekly groceries, asking for gift recommendations, finding similar products to something you’ve snapped a photo of, and more. Alexa says it remembers…

Artificial Intelligence