News/Amazon
How AI chatbots get their quirky names
Amazon's AI assistant gets a canine-inspired name: Amazon has launched its latest AI shopping assistant, naming it Rufus after the company's first office dog from its early startup days. The AI-powered Rufus is designed to answer customer questions about products and assist with purchasing decisions. Currently, Rufus can only respond via text and images, without voice capabilities. The assistant has already answered over 100 million queries since its launch in the US, India, and the UK. The story behind the name: Rufus, a Welsh corgi, played a significant role in Amazon's early history and helped shape the company's dog-friendly culture....
read Oct 29, 2024Box and Amazon partner to simplify AI app creation for enterprises
Box and AWS join forces to streamline generative AI app development: The content management platform Box has expanded its partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to simplify the creation of generative AI applications for enterprise clients. Box customers can now access foundation models through Amazon Bedrock, including Anthropic's Claude and Amazon's Titan, as part of Box AI. This integration allows companies to quickly build generative AI applications by combining advanced AI models with Box's Intelligent Content Management platform. The partnership aims to provide both accuracy and security for businesses looking to accelerate their AI initiatives. Key features of the collaboration:...
read Oct 25, 2024Kindle Scribe AI features expand to older e-reader models
Amazon expands AI features across Kindle Scribe models: Amazon has announced that the new generative AI features introduced with the latest Kindle Scribe will also be made available to older models through a software update. The new Kindle Scribe, set to ship on December 4th, will launch with these AI-powered tools pre-installed. Owners of the 2022 Kindle Scribe model can expect to receive these features via a software update later in the year. Enhanced note-taking capabilities: The AI-driven tools are designed to improve the user experience by offering advanced note management and handwriting conversion features. One of the key features...
read Oct 19, 2024Amazon boosts electric delivery vans with AI vison
AI-powered efficiency for Amazon's electric delivery fleet: Amazon's new Vision-Assisted Package Retrieval (VAPR) system aims to streamline the package retrieval process for delivery drivers, potentially revolutionizing the logistics industry. VAPR uses artificial intelligence and computer vision to identify and highlight packages for each delivery stop, projecting green "O" symbols on correct packages and red "X" symbols on others. The system provides audible cues to ensure drivers don't leave packages behind, eliminating the need for manual package organization and label checking. Amazon's Transportation team reports significant improvements in early tests, including a 67% reduction in perceived driver effort and over 30...
read Oct 15, 2024Amazon partners with Databricks to boost AI chip competitiveness
Amazon's strategic AI chip partnership: Amazon has entered into a significant five-year deal with Databricks, marking a crucial step in the tech giant's efforts to expand its presence in the artificial intelligence market. The partnership is specifically focused on AI chips, an area where Amazon aims to narrow the gap with industry leader Nvidia. This move underscores Amazon's commitment to strengthening its position in the rapidly evolving AI technology sector. Industry context and competitive landscape: The deal between Amazon and Databricks comes at a time when competition in the AI chip market is intensifying, with tech giants vying for dominance....
read Oct 13, 2024Amazon’s new AI Shopping Guides know what to buy before you do
AI Shopping Revolution: Amazon introduces AI Shopping Guides, a new feature designed to revolutionize the product research process by leveraging generative AI models to create personalized shopping companions. The AI Shopping Guides are currently available on Amazon's website and mobile app, but only for users in the United States. The feature covers more than 100 product categories, offering AI-curated information and recommendations. How It Works: The AI Shopping Guides integrate seamlessly into the standard search process, providing users with an additional resource alongside traditional search results. When users search for an item, an AI guide appears if available for that...
read Oct 10, 2024Amazon’s Rufus AI now shows price history to select shoppers
Rufus evolves: Amazon's AI shopping assistant now offers price history insights: Amazon has introduced a new feature to its AI-powered shopping assistant Rufus, allowing select US users to check price history for products directly within the platform. Key features and functionality: Rufus, Amazon's shopping-focused chatbot, has expanded its capabilities to provide users with valuable pricing information, enhancing the shopping experience. Users can access Rufus through a speech bubble icon in Amazon's app or website, making it easily accessible during the browsing process. To check a product's price history, shoppers simply navigate to the product page, tap on Rufus, and prompt...
read Oct 10, 2024Amazon’s AI-powered Ring is raising privacy concerns
The evolution of Ring security cameras: Amazon's Ring has become a ubiquitous presence in home security, with over 10 million devices installed across urban and suburban landscapes, despite controversies surrounding privacy and law enforcement partnerships. Ring, founded 11 years ago, has grown into a popular brand of video doorbells and security cameras. Amazon acquired the company and has guided it through various controversies, including privacy concerns, security breaches, and incidents of vigilantism. The brand's relationship with law enforcement has also been a point of contention. AI-powered enhancements: Ring is introducing artificial intelligence capabilities to help users more effectively manage and...
read Oct 9, 2024Amazon’s new AI Shopping Guides help shoppers find what they need
AI-Powered Shopping Guides: Amazon's Latest Innovation: Amazon has rolled out a new AI-powered feature called "Shopping Guides" to enhance the user experience for customers browsing products on its platform. Key features and functionality: The AI Shopping Guides are designed to provide more tailored product information and recommendations to users as they browse Amazon's extensive catalog. The feature is currently available for over 100 product types, including popular categories such as TVs, headphones, running shoes, and skincare products. Shopping Guides offer educational content about products and incorporate customer insights to help users make more informed purchase decisions. The system presents recommended...
read Oct 9, 2024AI shopping agents could transform how you buy on Amazon
Amazon's AI ambitions in e-commerce: The tech giant is developing advanced AI agents aimed at revolutionizing the online shopping experience, with potential implications for both consumers and the broader retail industry. Amazon recently introduced Rufus, a chatbot powered by a large language model (LLM) trained on internet text and Amazon's proprietary data, capable of answering questions about products on the platform. The company's current LLM boasts "hundreds of billions of parameters," with an even larger model in development. Future AI agents may have the ability to perform complex tasks like navigating websites or operating a PC to complete various actions....
read Oct 8, 2024Amazon is offering a $100 gift card if you buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE
Prime Day Deal Spotlight: Amazon is offering a compelling incentive for smartphone shoppers with a $100 gift card promotion on the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE during their October Prime Day event. The deal bundles a $100 Amazon gift card with the purchase of a Samsung Galaxy S24 FE AI smartphone The offer is available ahead of Amazon's Big Deal Days sale on October 8 and 9, 2024 Some color options are already running low on stock, indicating high demand Device Specifications and Features: The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE boasts impressive hardware and AI-enhanced capabilities, making it an attractive option for...
read Oct 8, 2024ASUS Chromebooks with Google AI are on deep discount for Prime Day
Google AI-powered ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 hits new low price: Amazon's fall Prime Day event offers significant discounts on select ASUS Chromebook models, with the Chromebook Plus CX34 reaching its lowest price to date at $319.99. Key features and specifications: The ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 is now available for $319.99, down from its regular price of $440, representing a 27% discount. It features a 14-inch 1080p display and is powered by Intel's 12th-gen Core i3-1215U processor. The device comes with 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD for storage. Its all-white chassis sets it apart from many competitors in the...
read Oct 3, 2024Amazon slashes prices on AI-powered Fire tablets pre-Prime Day
Amazon's Fire HD 8 tablet gets AI upgrade: Amazon has quietly unveiled an updated version of its Fire HD 8 tablet, featuring improved performance and new artificial intelligence capabilities, just in time for October Prime Day. Key improvements and specifications: The new Fire HD 8 tablet boasts 50% more RAM, enhancing its performance for streaming, gaming, and everyday use It features a 5MP rear-facing camera and up to 13 hours of battery life Storage options include 32GB and 64GB internal storage, expandable up to 1TB with a microSD card Available colors include Black, Hibiscus, and Emerald AI features and functionality:...
read Sep 24, 2024New Amazon AI Tool Transforms Product Images Into Engaging Video Ads
Amazon's AI-powered video ad generator: Amazon has introduced a new generative AI solution that transforms product images into video ads, aiming to streamline the creation process for advertisers and boost its advertising segment. The video generator, currently in beta, is part of Amazon's Sponsored Brands campaign suite and is available to ad partners at no additional cost. French skincare company Gellé Frères has been testing the offering in preparation for the Black Friday rush, reporting significant time savings in video ad production. Amazon has also introduced a live image capability for its existing image generator feature, allowing brands to add...
read Sep 22, 2024What Amazon’s New AI Seller Tools Will Mean for Shoppers
Amazon's AI revolution in e-commerce: Amazon has unveiled a new suite of generative AI tools, including Project Amelia, aimed at enhancing the seller and shopper experience on its platform. The announcement was made at the Amazon Accelerate event, with Project Amelia currently in beta and available to U.S. sellers. This development follows the earlier introduction of "Rufus," a chatbot designed to assist shoppers with suggestions, product comparisons, and recommendations. Key features of Project Amelia: The new AI toolset is designed to address various seller needs while simultaneously improving the overall shopping experience for customers. Project Amelia aims to help sellers...
read Sep 22, 2024How Amazon is Using AI and Robots to Transform Operations and Create Jobs
Revolutionizing e-commerce with AI and robotics: Amazon is leveraging artificial intelligence and robotics to transform its operations, creating a more efficient and collaborative work environment. Amazon's robotics fleet, numbering over 750,000 drive units, is the largest industrial mobile robot fleet in the world. These AI-powered robots work alongside human employees, improving efficiency and safety in Amazon's warehouses and distribution centers. Innovative warehouse solutions: The Hercules drive unit has transformed traditional warehouse operations by bringing inventory directly to workers, significantly improving storage density and efficiency. This system has led to a 40% improvement in storage density compared to traditional warehouse setups....
read Sep 20, 2024Amazon Launches AI-Powered Seller Tools for Enhanced Product Listings
Amazon's AI-powered seller tools revolutionize product listings: The e-commerce giant has unveiled a suite of AI-driven features designed to streamline the process of creating product listings, brand stories, and video advertisements for sellers on its platform. AI-generated product listings at scale: Amazon has expanded its AI capabilities to allow sellers to create multiple product listings simultaneously. Sellers can now use a bulk listing workflow, uploading a spreadsheet with minimal details to generate rich titles, bullet points, and descriptions for multiple products. The system can create listings from brief descriptions, URLs, or even product images, making the process faster and more...
read Sep 19, 2024Amazon is Incorporating Generative AI into the Shopping Experience
Amazon's AI-driven retail revolution: The e-commerce giant is integrating generative AI into its shopping platform, aiming to enhance the experience for both customers and sellers. Personalized product recommendations: Amazon is leveraging large language models to create more tailored product suggestions based on customers' preferences and shopping history. The new feature will offer broader category recommendations on Amazon's homepage, such as holiday events or sporting activities, rather than just similar specific items. Product descriptions will be curated to highlight features relevant to individual users, like prominently displaying "gluten-free" for customers who frequently search for such items. The system will also emphasize...
read Sep 17, 2024Intel and Amazon Team Up to Develop Advanced AI Chips
Intel and Amazon forge multibillion-dollar AI chip partnership: The tech giants have announced a significant deal that will see Intel develop at least two AI-capable chips for Amazon Web Services (AWS), deepening their existing collaboration and potentially reshaping the AI chip landscape. Intel will design and produce two different AI-capable chips for AWS, one using its advanced 18A process node and another based on the Xeon 6 architecture built on Intel 3. The multiyear, multibillion-dollar agreement aims to bolster AWS's cloud computing capabilities and Intel's position in the AI chip market. This partnership builds on the companies' longstanding relationship and...
read Sep 17, 2024Amazon is Using Generative AI to Make Prime Deliveries Even Faster
Amazon's AI-driven delivery revolution: Amazon is harnessing the power of generative AI to revolutionize its package delivery system, aiming to surpass its already impressive same or next-day delivery rate for Prime items. Amazon, long known for setting industry standards in fast delivery, is now leveraging generative AI to push the boundaries of efficiency and speed in package delivery. The company's goal is to increase the percentage of Prime items delivered same or next day beyond the current 60% mark achieved in March 2024. This ambitious pursuit comes despite potential concerns about increased energy consumption and associated costs. Key applications of...
read Sep 16, 2024Amazon Android App Gets UI Upgrade and New AI Assistant ‘Rufus’
Amazon's Android app gets AI upgrade: Amazon has rolled out a minor update to its Android app, featuring a redesigned interface and integration of the Rufus AI shopping assistant. The update, observed in version 28.17.0.100 and higher, introduces a new search bar and removes the long-standing blue gradient section. Rufus, an AI-powered tool designed to enhance the shopping experience, is now more prominently featured in the app. The update appears to be gradually rolling out to more devices, following its initial introduction to US customers in late August. Key interface changes: The redesign focuses on streamlining the app's layout and...
read Sep 14, 2024Amazon Joins Tech Giants to Combat AI-Generated Fake Content
Major tech player joins content authenticity initiative: Amazon has become the latest tech giant to join the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA), a group dedicated to developing standards for tracing the origins of digital content. Key players in the coalition: The C2PA already boasts an impressive roster of technology industry leaders, including: Adobe Google Microsoft Meta OpenAI C2PA's primary focus: The coalition is working on developing a system to help trace the origins of images, which could prove invaluable in the fight against AI-generated fake content. Current state of implementation: While the C2PA's efforts show promise, it's important...
read Sep 13, 2024Amazon’s Rufus AI Assistant to Integrate Ads in Recommendations
AI-powered shopping evolves: Amazon's AI shopping assistant Rufus is set to incorporate advertisements into its recommendations and responses, marking a significant shift in how e-commerce platforms integrate sponsored content with artificial intelligence. Rufus, designed to research products and recommend purchases through user conversations, will now include ads in "Rufus-related placements" when providing product suggestions. The AI assistant will generate accompanying text for ads based on the context of the conversation, ensuring a seamless integration rather than presenting them as separate sponsored links. Amazon aims to maintain contextual relevance in ad placement, avoiding spamming users with unrelated suggestions. Implications for user...
read Sep 10, 2024Amazon’s ‘Thursday Night Football’ A.I. Features Help Viewers Predict Game Play
AI-powered features enhance Amazon's 'Thursday Night Football' viewing experience: Amazon Prime Video is expanding its use of artificial intelligence to provide viewers with predictive insights during NFL broadcasts, aiming to give fans a deeper understanding of the game. Amazon is introducing new on-screen guide features powered by AI for the upcoming season of "Thursday Night Football" (TNF). These features are designed to help viewers anticipate and better comprehend game play before it happens. The additions build upon existing AI-driven elements like "defensive alerts" that track defensive player movements and identify potential quarterback rushers. New AI features unveiled: Amazon's latest AI-powered...
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