Needham & Company senior media and internet analyst Laura Martin provided insight into the earnings expectations for tech giants Alphabet, Google, and Amazon on “Making Money.” Amazon has unveiled its new shopping assistant, Rufus, which is powered by generative artificial intelligence (AI) and is designed to provide personalized recommendations and answer customer questions. According to Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, Rufus represents a significant improvement in the customer experience when it comes to discovering products on the platform.
Rufus has been launched in beta for a select group of U.S. users and is set to roll out to more customers in the coming weeks. This AI-powered shopping assistant will allow customers to ask a wide range of questions, receive thoughtful explanations, and make product recommendations based on their needs and preferences. It is designed to provide a conversational experience and help users discover items in a new and unique way compared to traditional e-commerce websites.
One of the unique features of Rufus is its ability to retain context coherently during conversations, allowing for follow-up questions and a seamless customer experience. Users will be able to interact with Rufus by typing or speaking their questions into the Amazon Shopping app, and a chat dialog box will appear to provide answers and suggestions. Customers can then choose to dismiss Rufus and return to their regular search results with a simple swipe down.
Amazon’s VP of search and conversational shopping, Rajiv Mehta, and VP and distinguished scientist in Amazon stores foundational AI division, Trishul Chilimbi, explained that Rufus has been trained on product catalogs, customer reviews, and other web data to provide comprehensive and personalized shopping assistance. This training enables Rufus to answer a variety of questions and provide comparisons and recommendations based on the context of the conversation.
Overall, Amazon is optimistic about the potential of Rufus to enhance the shopping experience for its customers, with plans for further personalization and expansion in the future. The company believes that Rufus will make it easier for customers to find and discover the best products to meet their needs, seamlessly integrated into their regular Amazon shopping experience.