New Delhi: Amazon has unveiled Rufus, a new artificial intelligence (AI)-powered shopping assistant, in beta testing for a select group of users in India. This innovative tool promises to revolutionize the online shopping experience by offering conversational guidance throughout the entire purchase journey.
What is Rufus?
Imagine having a personal shopping expert readily available at your fingertips. That’s essentially what Rufus is. Trained on Amazon’s massive product catalog and supplemented with information from the web, Rufus acts as your knowledgeable companion, guiding you through every step of online shopping on Amazon.in.
How Does Rufus Help?
- Ask Anything: Whether you’re embarking on broad research (“What to consider when buying a washing machine?”) or seeking specific product comparisons (“Fitness band vs smartwatch?”), Rufus is there to answer your questions.
- Discover New Products: Stuck for gift ideas? Need gear for your first camping trip? Ask Rufus! It can suggest relevant products based on occasions, purposes, and specific use cases.
- Make Informed Decisions: Unsure which TV technology is best? No problem! Rufus helps you compare features across product categories, empowering you to choose the perfect item for your needs.
- Find the Best Recommendations: Need the perfect Valentine’s Day gift or a dinosaur toy for your child? Rufus personalizes recommendations based on your specific queries.
- Stay Current with Trends: Stay on top of the latest gadgets and hottest products by asking Rufus for suggestions.
- Get Product Details: Curious about machine washability of a jacket or the ease of use of a cordless drill? Simply ask Rufus while browsing the product page.
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Getting Started with Rufus
If you’re selected for the beta program, you’ll see a new Rufus icon in the bottom right corner of the updated Amazon.in mobile app. Clicking the icon opens a chat window where you can interact with Rufus, expand answers, explore suggested questions, and ask follow-ups. Dismissing Rufus is just as easy; swipe down on the chat window to return to your traditional search results.
Learning and Improving
As with any new technology, Rufus is still under development. Amazon is committed to continuously improving the AI models to enhance Rufus’s helpfulness. You can contribute to this process by providing feedback through thumbs up/down ratings and freeform comments.
The Future of Shopping
The introduction of Rufus marks a significant step towards a more personalized and interactive shopping experience. Amazon is at the forefront of utilizing generative AI to transform online retail, and with Rufus, they’re making significant strides towards a future where shopping is not just convenient, but also engaging and informative.
