Amazon just rolled out Rufus, an intelligent shopping buddy in its app, to change how we buy things online. Rufus is all about making it easier to find and choose stuff, giving you a hand-picked list of ideas on what to buy.

• Amazon’s new helper, Rufus, uses AI to make shopping easier by finding and comparing products and suggesting shopping.
   
• Even though they’re getting more common, People are unsure if they really need or want AI chatbot helpers.
  
•  AI is popping up everywhere: Google Maps can suggest cool spots to visit, Shopify helps online stores look better, and there might soon be fewer annoying fake calls because of new rules.

Amazon Unveils Rufus: Your New Smart Shopping Sidekick in the App

Key Highlights:

• Introducing Rufus: Amazon’s AI assistant simplifies shopping by handling product search comparisons and offering tailored recommendations.
• Consumer Skepticism: Despite technological advancements, there’s noticeable skepticism about the demand for AI chatbots among the general public.
• Online Shopping Trends: Recent polls suggest that for a satisfying e-commerce experience, consumers prioritize product images and detailed reviews over AI assistance.

Rufus: Making Shopping on Amazon a Breeze

Rufus is Amazon’s newest competent helper, ready to tackle your shopping questions, highlight the differences between items, and suggest something you might like. But even with Rufus making a splash, we’re all wondering if people want this kind of tech. 

Surveys, like the ones from the Pew Research Center, show that not many folks are into using AI chatbots just yet – not many people are trying them.

Customer Preferences: The Human Touch Over AI?

According to a poll by Namogoo, shoppers value high-quality product images and detailed reviews over algorithmic assistance, suggesting that while AI like Rufus may handle specific tasks, it may not align with most shoppers’ priorities.

Amazon’s previous AI projects have faced setbacks, including their last chatbot, which compromised confidential information upon release.

AI Developments in Focus

Open AI Models: The Allen Institute for AI has introduced new language models with licensing for extensive use, including commercial endeavors.

AI in Regulation: The FCC proposes banning AI-generated robocalls to combat fraud.

Enhanced E-Commerce: Shopify’s new AI media editor allows merchants to improve product imagery.

Independent Web Navigation: The Browser Company is working on AI that browses the web autonomously.

Research and Innovations

AI’s Grasp of Normalcy: Yale research indicates that AI, like ChatGPT, can identify typical within a dataset, holding promise for future applications.

Cultural Inclusivity in AI: Startup Latimer is developing an AI model for culturally diverse and inclusive responses.

Robotics and Sensitivity: A robot from Cambridge University can read Braille faster than humans, demonstrating the potential of sensitive robotic fingertips.

As AI keeps getting into different parts of our everyday lives, these news bits highlight how this smart tech is constantly woven into things that make our shopping fun, help artists create, and push science forward.