Amazon introduces text-based shopping features for Alexa

Amazon has launched a new feature allowing customers to interact with its AI-powered shopping assistant via text messages. The service enables users to search for products, compare options, track price changes, share photos, and complete orders using natural language queries.

The tool is currently available to a limited, invite-only group of U.S. customers. Rajiv Mehta, Amazon's vice president of Conversational Shopping, stated that the company intends to expand access to millions of users in the coming weeks.

The introduction of this feature follows Amazon's decision in September 2026 to block Muse, an AI shopping agent developed by Meta. At that time, Amazon cited concerns regarding unauthorized access to its store and the potential capture of customer credentials.

While the new service will incorporate sponsored products during the discovery phase of a search, Amazon noted that purchases completed automatically by the agent will remain ad-free. This development aligns with a broader industry trend toward proprietary AI shopping tools.