Amazon Introduces Innovative AI-Driven Audio Summaries to Enhance Online Shopping Experience

Amazon is experimenting with a novel artificial intelligence (AI) feature aimed at enhancing users’ shopping journeys. Referred to as audio product summaries, this AI-driven tool enables users to listen to brief overviews about products. The e-commerce leader based in Seattle stated that the audio segments feature two or more AI-generated shopping specialists discussing various product facets, assisting users in determining whether it suits their needs. At present, Amazon is trialing this feature on a limited range of products, available to a selected group of users in the United States.

Amazon Introduces a New AI Shopping Tool

In a recent announcement, the technology powerhouse provided insights into the new AI capability currently in testing. The audio product summaries consist of concise audio snippets featured on the product detail pages. These segments involve multiple AI-generated shopping experts who discuss product features, customer feedback, and technical specifications gathered from online sources.

Amazon asserts that these audio summaries will eliminate the necessity of scrolling through the entire product detail page or conducting separate searches to acquire product information. Designed as a conversation, the company believes this audio format will make the experience more “enjoyable and user-friendly.”

Internally, this feature utilizes large language models (LLMs) to create scripts for the audio summaries. The script is generated by compiling data from the web, product catalogues, and customer testimonials. Subsequently, an AI text-to-speech (TTS) application converts the script into an audio discussion. Notably, the company refrained from specifying which AI models are being utilized for this functionality.

Users granted access to the audio product summaries feature can launch the Amazon app and select a product to view its detail page. Beneath the product image, users will find a new button labeled “Hear the highlights,” indicating the availability of an audio summary. Users can listen to the clip to gather additional product insights and decide whether to make a purchase.

Currently, eligible users can discover audio product summaries for items such as the Ninja Blender, OSEA Undaria Algae Body Oil, Rain Showers Splash Pond Toddler Water Table, and SHOKZ OpenRun Pro — Open-Ear Bluetooth Bone Conduction Sport Headphones.