Amazons AI-powered shopping assistant Rufus launches in Europe today

It’s bringing the in-store experience online and ultimately redefining what it means to shop,” he continued. We’ll consistently improve our algorithms to ensure you receive the most relevant, stylish, and up-to-the-minute shopping suggestions. As companies race to adopt AI, they’re unwittingly building digital Trojan horses, potentially exposing themselves to data breaches, privacy violations and competitive vulnerabilities. Industry experts said that without proper safeguards and clear policies, the convenience of AI could come at a steep price for businesses. Sign up for a complimentary subscription to Digital Commerce 360 Retail News.

Now, the Klarna AI assistant offers a chat-based shopping experience, as well as provides personalized product recommendations, expert advice, category and brand comparisons, and access to customer reviews. Generative AI is reshaping shopper expectations, particularly in pre-purchase decision-making. 72% of consumers now expect their online shopping experiences to evolve with the adoption of gen AI, according to survey results in a 2024 report released by the enterprise AI platform Coveo. Moreover, the same survey found 31% expect to use a virtual assistant to help them choose the right products. AI shopping assistants are becoming more popular, with various online retailers adding them to their sites. According to an IBM survey released in January, 55% of shoppers are «eager for AI enhancements like virtual assistants.»

Then a second Black Friday event will drop online on Monday, November 25 with in-store deals following on Friday, November 29. Cyber Monday, December 1, will be devoted exclusively to special online deals. When I started the search for a new bag, I had the $328 Cole Haan backpack in mind, but was more than happy to find this $99 Michael Kors alternative that I liked just as much — and that would save me $229. It told me the product has a 4.7 out of 5-star rating, with 379 reviews. In my follow-up prompt, I told the Klarna AI that the styles I wanted were out of stock and to provide more options.

The global payments network and shopping assistant is unveiling several new features in its customer assistant based on the OpenAI platform. Initially released in February 2024, the generative AI-based tool is designed to manage a range of tasks including multilingual customer service and managing refunds and returns. «Walmart’s integration of AI and generative across various platforms is transforming the holiday shopping experience, making it easier, quicker and more personalized,» Walmart said. «This holiday season, spend less time searching and more time with loved ones, thanks to the innovative AI-driven tools at Walmart.» Additional tools such as generative AI-based product reviews, product summarizations and product comparisons are also available to enhance the shopping experience. For example, with Walmart’s AI-driven comparison feature, customers can compare different models when searching for a smart TV.

Our US editor in chief, Kat Collings, shares more about the exciting launch. «Who What Wear is known for its expert shopping recommendations across fashion and beauty, and ISA is all about providing our audience with a new way to shop smarter,» Collings says. «Especially as we head into the busy holiday season, ISA is an incredible AI-powered resource to help our audience source editor-approved gifts more quickly and efficiently.» Whether users have questions about specific features, need help choosing the right size, or want to explore different options, the assistant can offer valuable insights and recommendations. As artificial intelligence (AI) avatars transform remote collaboration and personalized shopping guides redefine eCommerce, data security and corporate espionage concerns intensify.

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In the coming year, Walmart will use this technology to create more relevant and customized homepages for each individual shopper. Walmart is also using AI to identify and vet influencers, then share their content on the Walmart.com homepage for holiday recommendations. I’ve tried out a variety of AI tools and assistants, but I usually stick with my go-to chatbot for all AI-related inquiries. I also don’t really like to interact with other AI tools that are customer-facing. Rufus can also access current and past orders and answer non-shopping-related questions like other chatbots.

Only 19% of Generation Z consumers, 20% of zillennials (the microgeneration between Gen Z and millennials) and 19% of millennials expressed interest. In Mexico, customers shopping at select Bodega Aurrera stores will have a greater number of online grocery delivery windows for all items useful for holiday party and cooking needs. The slot optimization data science model considers factors such as the number of available pickers and physical constraints within each store to determine the maximum number of orders that can be efficiently fulfilled daily.

I had to specifically ask it whether I should get a Fitbit or Apple Watch for it to give me a rundown on the differences of both. I also asked it about the Oura Ring and it gave me a pretty comprehensive explanation of what the two devices offer and linked both products. ai assistants for ecommerce I wouldn’t have thought to ask questions about the noise level or whether it oscillates, but these ended up being determining factors for the fan I selected. In other products I browsed through, Rufus suggested prompts that helped me understand the product better.

Ikea launches generative AI assistant

Meta’s AI handles customer inquiries on WhatsApp and Messenger, while Google offers automated email responses in Gmail and AI-powered ad creation. “I think like ChatGPT, the adoption curve will be about two years,” said Joe Monastiero, founder and CEO of visualAI retail solutions, a software company that builds AI solutions for ecommerce. Ingka Group approach to Responsible AI is focused on driving innovation that is rooted in integrity, empathy, and a strong sense of responsibility, embodying a human-centric approach.

You will be served ISA’s overall pick, more affordable alternatives, and related stories on Who What Wear to go even deeper. Users can easily compare products across various categories, including price, features, and customer reviews. The search giant is rebuilding its shopping experience around AI, rolling out new features like personalised product feeds and AI-powered shopping guides, beginning this week. Plus, users can also share their search results with their friends or on social media.

• Rather than searching for a new TV, chicken wings, chips, and other essentials, one search would generate all of these items, he said, without the user manually inputting the specifics of each type of product.
• Ingka Group sees the future of AI as an opportunity for a more ethical and inclusive use of technology, benefiting a wider community.
• A new generative AI-based personalization feature being launched this holiday season in Mexico offers a broader range of personalized product recommendations.
• When customers visit the Walmart e-commerce site, AI technologies understand their preferences and generative AI predicts the type of content they’d like to see.
• The report found that 77% of retailers rank generative AI as the most impactful emerging technology.

The 2024 edition of PYMNTS Intelligence’s “How the World Does Digital” report, which drew from a survey of 67,000 consumers across 11 countries, revealed that 18% of the sample uses voice technology to shop at least once a week. Roughly 12 million additional U.S. households will receive expanded delivery coverage from Walmart this year due to an AI-driven geospatial platform. This technology unifies Walmart’s transactions, network catchment, customer insights and external data into a geo-grid composed of data layers. Rufus has a row of questions at the bottom of products that you can scroll through and select.

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon gave the example of a shopper hosting a Super Bowl watch party. Rather than searching for a new TV, chicken wings, chips, and other essentials, one search would generate all of these items, he said, without the user manually inputting the specifics of each type of product. Ikea released a new generative artificial intelligence (AI) shopping tool, the retailer announced Feb. 5.

Rufus, Amazon’s AI shopping assistant, goes global

Arcade lets shoppers design their own jewellery with AI and then produces it. It highlights both the potential in letting users turn their ideas into reality and how much labour is required behind the scenes to make it possible. You can ask the tool things directly related to a product, like “Is this coffee maker easy to clean and maintain? ” as well as recommendations about the best outdoor speaker or even more general questions about the products you might need for a summer party. But to be prepared to answer the vast span of questions that could possibly be asked, Rufus must be empowered to go beyond its initial training data and bring in fresh information. ” the LLM first parses the question, then it figures out which retrieval sources will help it generate the answer.

According to Walmart, this represents the largest-scale implementation of consumer-facing AI-powered technology in the retail industry and significantly reduces wait times. In clubs where the technology has been deployed, Walmart reports more than 64% of members are enjoying the friction-free exit experience, resulting in members leaving the store 21% faster. Shopify’s Sidekick, for example, acts as a virtual colleague for merchants. It can write product descriptions, suggest marketing strategies, and even help optimize store layouts. For instance, a seller struggling with product copy can ask Sidekick to generate engaging descriptions based on key features.

However, according to Mastercard, Muse recreates the in-store experience — as much as possible virtually — by translating consumers’ everyday language into tailored product recommendations. The recommendations will come from The Shopping Muse, a next-generation retail assistant from Dynamic Yield, which Mastercard owns. Shopping Muse uses generative artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to help customers choose items such as accessories or shirts.

For instance, users can command their virtual assistant to regulate thermostat settings, turn off lights, or secure doors, thereby enhancing both convenience and energy efficiency. Furthermore, virtual assistants are being incorporated into a diverse array of Internet of Things (IoT) devices beyond household applications, including wearables, smart appliances, and connected vehicles. This integration facilitates hands-free interaction and control of these devices, whether it involves monitoring fitness data on a smartwatch, remotely preheating an oven, or adjusting car settings while on the road. Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning were ongoing, enhancing virtual assistants’ capabilities to better comprehend natural language, context, and user preferences. Monastiero shared that hyper-personalized shopping assistants, such as the conversational agent developed by his company, can keep shoppers engaged longer. That engagement would ideally drive more interaction and potentially boost conversion rates.

VIRTUAL ASSISTANT MARKET REGIONAL INSIGHTS

You can also tell ISA if you have specific parameters, such as a preferred price range or retailer. Furthermore, the assistant’s price-tracking feature allows users to stay up to date on price changes for millions of products. In addition to personalised recommendations, the assistant offers a powerful product comparison tool.

• In other products I browsed through, Rufus suggested prompts that helped me understand the product better.
• Next, Dynamic Yield is looking at use cases for furniture retailers, expanding to other categories thereafter.
• Meanwhile, OpenAI is advancing customer interaction with its new voice interface for ChatGPT.
• It will be launched as an app on employees’ “specially equipped handheld devices,” according to the company.
• Users can easily compare products across various categories, including price, features, and customer reviews.
• I tried Rufus for a number of searches and found it “sticky,” the highest compliment to be paid to an online experience.

Meanwhile, many retailers are waiting on more detailed data to better understand its impact on ecommerce. The virtual assistant market comprises a diverse array of offerings aimed at furnishing digital support to individuals, businesses, and organizations. The problem is, these items tend to cost more, because they’re quality over quantity. So when I heard that «buy now, pay later» leader Klarna ChatGPT App had launched an AI shopping assistant that helps compare products and find the best price, I was intrigued. Rep AI is poised to revolutionise e-commerce by addressing the long-standing issue of low conversion rates through its AI-powered Sales Concierge. With personalised, real-time assistance tailored to individual shopper behaviour, it enhances the customer experience and drives sales.

Increasing worries regarding data privacy and security could result in reluctance among users to engage with virtual assistants, especially considering that these systems frequently gather and handle sensitive personal data. Once the holiday retail results are tallied, the entire retail industry will learn just how impactful AI can be as a shopping assistant based upon the results from these two retailers. While there are bugs to fix, such as not showing the items that are currently out of stock, it was helpful to be able to chat about a product I was planning to buy.

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I lead the team of scientists and engineers that built the large language model (LLM) that powers Rufus. To build a helpful conversational shopping assistant, we used innovative techniques across multiple aspects of generative AI. In terms of the future, Cherry is focused on expanding its user base, integrating with online retailers and introducing personalized shopping recommendations in order to “cherry-pick” the best products for its users. The company is also exploring opportunities to partner with brands for exclusive deals and promotions. Online retailers and tech experts told Digital Commerce 360 that AI shopping assistants are making shopping more personalized and gaining useful feedback from customers.

These solutions played a vital role in assisting individuals and businesses with managing tasks, schedules, and communication more effectively while working remotely. Daniel Citron, CEO of tech company AI.Fashion, which specializes in creating fashion imagery with AI, tells Digital Commerce 360 that AI has a future in the apparel shopping experience. Going ChatGPT forward, Walmart plans to customize the home pages for each customer, which promises to provide a more personalized shopping experience for each. Klarna’s AI shopping assistant, which launched last month, is powered by OpenAI, maker of ChatGPT and Dall-E. Klarna was founded in 2005 and currently logs over 2 million transactions per day on the platform.

In addition, the search bar now supports natural language processing to enhance the search function. Users may describe a task they wish to accomplish, such as building an indoor garden, and have Rufus list the items that are necessary for the project. Shoppers seeking more information can ask the chatbot to highlight the factors that they should consider before purchasing a particular product.

The virtual assistant market growth is propelled by ongoing enhancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing (NLP) technologies. These advancements bolster the capabilities of virtual assistants, rendering them increasingly intuitive, responsive, and adept at accurately understanding and interpreting user queries. Integrating virtual assistants with smart home devices such as speakers, thermostats, lighting systems, and security cameras empowers users to manage their home environment through voice commands.

By leveraging AI, Klarna is transforming the way consumers shop, making it more efficient, enjoyable, and personalised. For those seeking expert advice, the assistant is equipped to provide guidance on product selection. By analysing past purchases, preferences, and browsing history, the assistant can suggest products that are tailored to individual needs and tastes.

” or “Best games for rainy days with a five-year-old.” Rufus generates results tailored to the specific question and presents more refined results. As a Premium user you get access to background information and details about the release of this statistic. These algorithms create unique delivery areas for each store based on factors like slot availability, drive time and store capacity, rather than traditional mileage-based delivery areas. Meanwhile, eBay has taken a different approach, focusing on AI-generated imagery. Its tool allows sellers to describe an item, and AI creates professional-looking photos for listings. This can be particularly useful for sellers who need more photography skills or equipment.

Rufus populates the streaming response with the right data (a process called hydration­­) by making queries to internal systems. In addition to generating the content for the response, it also generates formatting instructions that specify how various answer elements should be displayed. In another move announced Monday, Shopify and Target partnered to include select Shopify merchants on the retail giant’s third-party digital marketplace called Target Plus.

He suggested that companies could use ChatGPT as an interactive, voice-based researcher, engaging customers in natural conversations to uncover their true motivations. This approach could yield more authentic consumer insights than traditional surveys or focus groups. The assistant can also recommend products based on customer preferences, such as seasonal purchasing trends and product color and brand. In addition, customers can compare items or different categories of products, with relevant product suggestions featuring AI-generated, unbiased summaries of the pros and cons of each.

4 AI-powered innovations—personalized size recommendations, review highlights, re-imagined size charts, and fit insights—are helping customers shop with confidence. We want Rufus to provide the most relevant and helpful answer to any given question. Sometimes that means a long-form text answer, but sometimes it’s short-form text, or a clickable link to navigate the store. And we had to make sure the presented information follows a logical flow.

Building on these AI customer innovations, today we are launching Rufus in beta to customers in Germany, France, Italy and Spain. Customers in the U.S., the UK, and India have already asked Rufus tens of millions of questions, and we’re excited to introduce it in these countries too. However, retailers prioritize backend operations over the front end customer-facing side when it comes to implementing AI, according to a study by Colliers U.S. Research. It helped me save $229, by finding a backpack at a better price, in under 30 minutes.

By Emma Roth, a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. You can foun additiona information about ai customer service and artificial intelligence and NLP. That’s why Rufus uses an advanced streaming architecture for delivering responses. Customers don’t need to wait for a long answer to be fully generated—instead, they get the first part of the answer while the rest is being generated.