From CNET: Rufus has gone to the kennel. Amazon is replacing its e-commerce AI assistant with Alexa for Shopping, which will be available to all US customers within a week.
The new feature will be available to customers using the Amazon Shopping app and website, as well as Echo Show devices. It's free to use when people sign in to their accounts, and consumers don't need a Prime membership.
On mobile, customers can update their Amazon shopping app and look for the Alexa icon in the bottom navigation bar. On desktop, customers can find Alexa for Shopping in the menu banner near the top of Amazon pages.
But Rufus -- named for a corgi who roamed the company's first warehouse in 1996 -- hasn't completely lost its bite. Amazon said Alexa for Shopping combines Rufus' product expertise with Alexa Plus' personalized knowledge and context.
Alexa Plus is Amazon's generative AI assistant, designed to be more conversational and have more capabilities than the more command-oriented Alexa. Alexa Plus, available on the app, Echo devices, Alexa.com and Amazon.com, can help people find good restaurants, schedule their week, manage smart homes and more.
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