Amazon Launches Join the Chat AI in Shopping App

Amazon on Tuesday launched Join the Chat, a new AI-powered feature in its Shopping app that allows U.S. customers to ask questions about products and receive real-time audio responses during audio summaries.

The feature builds on Hear the Highlights, an existing tool available on millions of product pages in the Amazon Shopping app for iOS and Android devices. Hear the Highlights provides short AI-generated audio overviews of key product features, drawn from details, customer reviews and other publicly available information. First tested in May of last year and later rolled out widely, it now includes Join the Chat for more interactive use.

To access it, users open a product detail page, tap the Hear the Highlights button below the product image and play the summary. They can then tap a raised-hand icon to enter Join the Chat mode, where they submit questions via voice or text. The AI pauses the summary, delivers a tailored spoken answer and resumes playback. Responses incorporate context from the ongoing conversation, avoiding repetition and focusing on new details such as whether a coffee maker suits beginners or if a sweater feels itchy based on reviews.