In 2023, you could hardly move for mentions of generative AI and its applications. The upcoming year looks set for more of the same, as retailers and CPGs alike plan to pull ahead in their adoption of these buzz-generating technologies and leverage them in innovative but impactful ways.
Amazon is just one of the companies tapping generative AI across a broad range of use cases. The company recently detailed some of the ways it is leveraging these technologies to deliver substantial value, from product listings to palm payments, and more:
Payment Innovations
The company has channeled gen AI development efforts into making payment options more seamless, combining the technology with computer vision, object recognition, deep learning, and sensors in its Just Walk Out stores.
Amazon also used generative AI to build Amazon One, a contactless identity payment that allows customers to pay with the palms of their hands. So far, these technologies have been rolled out at several third-party locations including the Seattle Seahawks’ Lumen Field stadium, Panera Bread, and Whole Foods stores.
Product Listings and Review Highlights
Amazon first began sharing customer reviews on its website in 1995, introducing a quick star rating system in 2019, allowing users to leave reviews without writing a full-text review.
This year, however, Amazon made headlines when it rolled out its review highlights feature, which uses generative AI to create bite-sized, collated paragraphs that collate the most frequently mentioned customer sentiment across written reviews.
This year, the company also laid out plans to improve its sellers’ ecosystem, laying the groundwork for an automated “Supply Chain” solution that leverages advanced machine learning capabilities to assist sellers in optimizing shipping and delivery, expanding its logistics network beyond the walls of e-commerce and offering its sellers an end-to-end inventory management solution.
At the time, Amazon revealed it would use AI to enhance product listing creation for sellers, simplifying the process and improving product descriptions, titles, and details.
“Our vision has always been to make it as easy as possible for sellers to serve customers around the world. With Amazon taking on even more of the supply chain and operational complexities on behalf of our selling partners, we are excited to help them save more money, drive more business growth, and have more time to continue inventing amazing products for customers,” said Dharmesh Mehta, Amazon’s vice president in charge of worldwide seller services said in a statement at the time.
Generative AI can also help advertisers create more engaging and visually appealing ads. With this in mind, Amazon has rolled out its Ad Console, allowing advertisers to choose their product and click a button to quickly generate a set of lifestyle or brand-themed images.
