Amazon lets shoppers text Alexa to place orders

Amazon is testing a new way to shop: texting Alexa instead of tapping through an app. The Alexa for Shopping feature lets customers send the AI agent their requests by message, and it's available to select US customers by invite now, with a wider rollout expected in the coming weeks.

Shoppers can ask for a weekly grocery order, hunt for a gift, or request a quick re-order of something running low. Alexa also responds to photo attachments, scanning the store for matches, then messages back suggestions and can add approved items to the cart before completing the order.

Amazon says the AI will sharpen its recommendations as it learns a customer's shopping habits and tastes. Users can also set alerts for products they want when they go on sale, check pricing history going back up to a year, and ask about delivery status. Requests carry over to the Amazon Shopping app and website for further research.

To try the feature early, customers can sign up, link their phone number, and - if accepted - will see "Alexa Shopping" in their contacts.