Amazon recently unveiled Rufus, a new AI shopping assistant aimed at enhancing users' search and shopping experiences. This tool empowers shoppers to input their queries via typing or voice commands in Amazon's mobile app's search bar, prompting a chat window to appear at the bottom of their screens. Users can ask conversational questions like, "What are the differences between trail and road running shoes?" or "Compare drip and pour-over coffee makers. " In a blog post, Amazon stated that Rufus significantly improves the ease with which customers can find the best products to suit their needs. To provide answers, Rufus leverages Amazon's product catalog, customer reviews, Q&As, and information sourced from the web. While testing this feature with a select group of users in the U. S. , Amazon plans to roll it out nationwide in the coming weeks.

CEO Andy Jassy envisions incorporating generative AI throughout all of Amazon's businesses. The company will likely provide an update on its AI initiatives during its fourth-quarter earnings report. Leveraging the buzz generated by OpenAI's ChatGPT, Amazon has launched various generative AI tools and services in recent months. These include AI tools to address shoppers' inquiries and summarize reviews, as well as an AI feature to assist third-party sellers in crafting listings. Additionally, beyond its retail operations, Amazon has introduced Q, a chatbot geared towards businesses, and Bedrock, a generative AI service tailored for cloud customers.