Amazon Adds Texting to Alexa’s Shopping Tools

Amazon is beginning to offer some U.S. customers a way to shop by texting Alexa. The feature, announced on November 6, lets users describe what they want, send a photo of an item or outfit, and receive matching Amazon products by text. Alexa can also place orders for them.

Customers invited to try the service can use it to manage shopping lists, look for products, compare options, monitor prices and check order progress. Amazon says the assistant will gradually adapt its recommendations to a user’s preferences. It can also notify users when watched items go on sale.

The service builds on Amazon’s Alexa for Shopping offering, introduced in May. The company plans to expand access in the coming weeks, and customers who are not invited can join a waitlist. Amazon is positioning text messages as another way to use its shopping assistant without opening its app or website.

The launch comes as companies develop text-based ways to interact with AI agents. Amazon previously blocked Meta’s Muse from accessing its site, while DoorDash has introduced its own text-based ordering assistant. DoorDash said third-party agents had generated only hundreds of orders on its platform so far and said it would focus on improving its own tool.