Amazon Lets You Text Alexa to Shop
Select US customers can now text Alexa to shop, manage lists, track prices and more on Amazon.
TL;DR
- Amazon is rolling out text-based shopping with Alexa to select US users, with wider access soon.
- Users can search items, add to cart, buy, manage lists, compare products, check orders and send photos for similar listings.
- Alexa learns preferences over time; the feature follows Amazon blocking Meta’s Muse AI in September.
Amazon is rolling out a new way to shop by texting its Alexa AI. Select US customers will get an invite via text to try it, with wider access coming soon. Those left out can join a waitlist.
The feature lets users send natural language messages to search items, add them to cart, buy stuff, manage lists, track prices, compare products, and check order status. You can also snap a photo of something and send it to find similar listings on Amazon.
Alexa will learn your preferences over time and suggest things based on what you usually buy. It builds on earlier shopping upgrades to the AI.
This move follows Amazon blocking Meta’s Muse AI from querying its site back in September. The timing lines up with the holiday shopping rush.
“Now with Alexa for Shopping, your personal shopping agent is just a text away.”
Other companies are doing similar things. DoorDash launched a text-based agent in September, and OpenAI added texting with its own AI agent last month.
The Tea
Amazon is jumping on the texting AI agent wave to keep you buying without opening the app. It’s all about making shopping feel as easy as firing off a message in your group chat.