After blocking Muse, Amazon now lets users text Alexa to help them shop

Summary

• Amazon launched a feature allowing select U.S. customers to chat with its Alexa AI agent via text messages to shop.
• The text-based interaction enables users to search for items, add products to carts, and complete purchases using natural language queries.
• Alexa can manage shopping lists, monitor prices, search the web, compare products, check order status, and identify similar listings from uploaded images.
• The company plans for Alexa to learn user preferences over time to provide personalized item suggestions.
• Users not currently invited to the feature can join a waitlist for broader rollout in the coming weeks.
• The launch follows Amazon blocking Meta's Muse from querying its site in September.
• The feature is being introduced ahead of the holiday shopping season.
• Competitors like DoorDash are also developing their own text-based AI agents as the market for consumer-focused AI grows.