Amazon Launches Chatbot 'Rufus' To Answer Your Shopping Questions
Amazon says its AI shopping assistant can help you find products, provide comparisons and make recommendations.
Meet Rufus, Amazon's newly launched shopping assistant powered by artificial intelligence (AI), designed to answer your shopping questions and help you buy more.
Rufus launched as a beta version on February 1 to a small subset of U.S. customers who use Amazon's mobile app. The company said it will gradually roll out the chatbot to the rest of its U.S. customers in coming weeks.
With training from Amazon's vast product catalog, user reviews, community Q&As and information from other online sources, Rufus can respond to customer questions on a range of topics related to shopping and product comparisons, Amazon said. It can also provide recommendations based on conversations with customers.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
According to Amazon, information that Rufus can provide customers with includes:
- What to look for while shopping in specific product categories. Customers can ask Rufus questions such as — “What should I consider when buying headphones?”
- Suggestions for specific occasions or purposes, answering questions or statements such as — “What do I need for cold weather golf?” or “I want to start an indoor garden.”
- Comparisons of product categories, answering questions such as — “What’s the difference between lip gloss and lip oil?”
- Recommendations based on specific customer needs, answering questions such as — “What are the best dinosaur toys for a five-year-old?"
- More details about a product while on that product's page, answering questions such as — “Is this jacket machine washable?” or “Is this cordless drill easy to hold?”
“Rufus meaningfully improves how easy it is for customers to find and discover the best products to meet their needs, integrated seamlessly into the same Amazon shopping experience they use regularly,” Amazon said in a statement.
How to use Rufus
Once you get access to the bot, you can type or speak questions into the mobile app's search bar. A chat dialog box will appear at the bottom of the screen that allows you to search or ask questions, which you can expand to see answers, tap on suggestions or ask follow-up questions.
When you're done using Rufus or if you're not interested in the bot, you can dismiss it and return to the traditional search process by swiping down to send the chatbot to the bottom of the screen.
Walmart's AR 'try-on' eyewear
The move comes as Walmart launches an augmented reality (AR) feature, Optical Virtual Try-On, which uses 3D and advanced algorithms to create a digital twin of eyewear frames. The feature allows customers to virtually "try on" more than 750 frames and purchase prescription eyewear, Walmart said in a statement.
"While the concept of virtual try-on is not new, Walmart is taking it to the next level," Walmart said. The company added that it has increased investments in AR and virtual reality (VR) technologies and that Optical Virtual Try-On expands the use of those technologies.
To use the feature, visit Walmart online or use the Walmart app and click on the "try them on" flag in the main image on the product page. You need to allow a facial scan and view the glasses "as if you were wearing them looking in the mirror," and customize the lenses that work best for you, Walmart says on its website. You also need to upload your prescription and allow a scan to capture your pupillary distance measurements.
According to the website, once you receive the online order, you can visit a Walmart Vision Center and work with an optician "to get any finishing touches."
Related Content
To continue reading this article
please register for free
This is different from signing in to your print subscription
Why am I seeing this? Find out more here
Joey Solitro is a freelance financial journalist at Kiplinger with more than a decade of experience. A longtime equity analyst, Joey has covered a range of industries for media outlets including The Motley Fool, Seeking Alpha, Market Realist, and TipRanks. Joey holds a bachelor's degree in business administration.
-
Markets Post Broad-Based Gains Thanks to Mega-Cap Tech
Stocks get help from a couple of laggard Magnificent 7 stocks.
By Dan Burrows Published
-
How to Assess the Impact of Your Charitable Giving
Here are five simple ways to 'do this, not that' when trying to find out from a nonprofit what kind of impact your donations are having.
By Catherine Crystal Foster Published
-
Blue Zones: A Blueprint for Adapting Health and Financial Security into Longevity
Many of the tactics used to increase longevity in "blue zones" are attainable, and as people age longer, habits and financial planning need to adapt accordingly.
By Quincy Williamson Published
-
Ease on Down the Road to Retirement
Want to keep working, just not as hard? A phased retirement may just be the answer.
By Kimberly Lankford Published
-
A Financial Checklist for Widows
An interview with a financial adviser about the financial steps widows should take.
By Janet Bodnar Last updated
-
You Should Be Investing in a 529 Now for Your Kids' or Grandkids' Tuition
Learn how to maximize investing in a 529, a state-sponsored college education savings account for qualifying educational expenses.
By Emma Patch Published
-
Get These 40 Earth Day Deals and Discounts
Monday, April 22, is Earth Day. Many of your favorite retailers are celebrating with deals on sustainable products, recycling services, and more
By Kathryn Pomroy Last updated
-
Free Coffee on National Cold Brew Day Saturday, April 20th
Just in time for National Cold Brew Day, Dunkin', Pilot and Flying J Travel Centers, La Colombe and Dutch Bros. are offering up crave-worthy deals.
By Kathryn Pomroy Published
-
Starbucks BOGO and New Sweet and Spicy Drinks
For a limited time, Starbucks is announcing four new "swicy" drinks that are both spicy and sweet.
By Kathryn Pomroy Published
-
Walmart Lawsuit: Get Up to $500 as Part of a $45 Million Settlement
You could be eligible to receive up to $500 as a result of Walmart's class-action lawsuit settlement.
By Erin Bendig Published