Wire reporting: (Reuters, via CNA)

Amazon said Friday that U.S. customers can use Alexa for Shopping, its AI shopping assistant, to search Amazon listings and place orders over text messages, according to The Verge and CNA^1,2.

The Verge reported that shoppers can describe what they want or send a photograph; Alexa for Shopping then looks for matching Amazon listings, texts back recommendations, and can buy the item¹. CNA said the same text channel can research and compare products, track deals and price drops, and complete purchases on a customer's behalf².

The Verge said the contact shows up on a phone as Amazon Alexa and extends an Alexa for Shopping experience it said launched in May, meant for times when messaging is easier than the Amazon app or website¹. Amazon told The Verge the assistant remembers preferences over time and can text when a watched item goes on sale¹.

Both outlets said the SMS feature is starting with a small group of invited U.S. customers who get a text to try it, with a wider rollout in the coming weeks^1,2. The Verge, citing Amazon, said that later wave would reach millions more customers¹.

Rajiv Mehta, Amazon's vice president of conversational shopping, said the agent is "just a text away" and can search, compare, and buy so customers can continue their day, according to The Verge¹.

CNA placed the launch next to Amazon's fights with other companies' shopping agents, saying Amazon recently blocked Meta's Muse from its marketplace and that a March court order against Perplexity's Comet was later overturned, with that case still open². The Verge did not report those disputes and instead compared the texts to OpenAI's Dot agent messaging and DoorDash's Ask DoorDash ordering by text¹.

It was not reported how customers will confirm payment, what happens if they are not in the invite group, or when the feature will be available outside the United States^1,2.