Amazon now has an AI-generated podcast for items you want to buy

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Amazon now has an AI feature that works like a podcast – you can simply ask it questions to learn more about products you’re considering.

Artificial intelligence is now common across many industries, and retail is no exception. Stores are increasingly using AI in various ways – from helping shoppers choose products to powering self-checkout systems and much more.

AI can be a great help, but sometimes it causes problems for shoppers. For example, a store in Australia had to fix its AI system because it started making strange comments to customers about their families, even though they hadn’t mentioned them.

Amazon now lets shoppers use AI to get instant answers to their questions about products they’re considering.

Amazon has AI-generated podcast about items you want to buy

Join the Chat is a new feature from Amazon’s Hear the Highlights. Instead of reading through product details and reviews, two AI hosts will discuss the items you’re interested in, giving you instant insights.

The new system is getting a lot of buzz on social media, and many users are testing its limits.

One user praised the system’s robustness, saying whoever evaluated it at Amazon deserves a raise. They spent 45 minutes trying to make it fail with bizarre requests, but it consistently performed without breaking.

The person who tested this AI at Amazon deserves recognition! I spent 45 minutes trying to make it give a bad response with increasingly bizarre questions, but it never failed. For example, I even asked, “I was attacked by a bear as a child – should I buy a five-foot inflatable bear pool float?” and it still answered perfectly.

— Olivia Moore (@omooretweets) April 30, 2026

The new feature has received mixed reactions. Some users strongly dislike it, calling it “awful,” while others see it as an interesting demonstration of the technology. One person questioned its practical use, saying they couldn’t see anyone genuinely benefiting from it beyond simple entertainment. Another user compared it negatively to Target’s previous use of AI in their Q&A sections, suggesting this new implementation was equally problematic.

This feature isn’t perfect and doesn’t work with all products on Amazon. If you’re not seeing it as an option, that’s likely the reason.

Target has begun adding an AI assistant to its website, but customers will still be responsible for any errors the AI makes when helping with purchases.

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2026-05-01 12:48