Amazon Weighs Global Product Database

Amazon is considering a project called the World Product Graph to gather product information from around the world, including items it does not sell. Reuters reported the plan on the 13th, citing internal documents and people familiar with it. Amazon aims to reduce the need for shoppers to visit other sites to compare products and encourage external AI agents that shop on users’ behalf to use Amazon’s information for product searches and comparisons.

The plan would combine information from brands with data collected from other retail sites to identify product differences and relationships. Amazon wants shoppers to find information on its platform to distinguish newer models or choose products that suit them. The proposal also includes automatically browsing other companies’ websites to collect product details, though the collection method and whether each company’s permission would be required have not been confirmed.

Internal documents said richer product information could improve the accuracy of Amazon’s own AI shopping assistant and reduce operating costs. They noted that the existing Rufus assistant has had incorrect or missing answers, and that better information could allow Amazon to use less expensive models efficiently. Amazon said its current Alexa for Shopping service answers with about 97% accuracy, according to its own measurement. The company indicated that the internal documents’ criticism does not necessarily reflect the current service’s performance. Alexa for Shopping was renamed from Rufus in May.

Amazon already operates Shop Direct, which displays products from outside retailers, and Buy for Me, which can make purchases on a customer’s behalf. Shoppers can go to a seller’s site to buy directly or use Amazon’s AI purchasing feature to order some products. People familiar with the plan said broader product information could attract external AI agents to Amazon and help protect its advertising business. If outside agents direct shoppers to purchases at other retailers, Amazon may have fewer opportunities to receive visits or show ads.

An internal document listed October 1 next year as the target launch date, but neither implementation nor timing has been finalized. Amazon said the document was an old planning review and may not reflect its current plans.

Amazon is considering a project called the World Product Graph to gather product information from around the world, including items it does not sell. Reuters reported the plan on the 13th, citing internal documents and people familiar with it. Amazon aims to reduce the need for shoppers to visit other sites to compare products and encourage external AI agents that shop on users’ behalf to use Amazon’s information for product searches and comparisons.

The plan would combine information from brands with data collected from other retail sites to identify product differences and relationships. Amazon wants shoppers to find information on its platform to distinguish newer models or choose products that suit them. The proposal also includes automatically browsing other companies’ websites to collect product details, though the collection method and whether each company’s permission would be required have not been confirmed.

Internal documents said richer product information could improve the accuracy of Amazon’s own AI shopping assistant and reduce operating costs. They noted that the existing Rufus assistant has had incorrect or missing answers, and that better information could allow Amazon to use less expensive models efficiently. Amazon said its current Alexa for Shopping service answers with about 97% accuracy, according to its own measurement. The company indicated that the internal documents’ criticism does not necessarily reflect the current service’s performance. Alexa for Shopping was renamed from Rufus in May.

Amazon already operates Shop Direct, which displays products from outside retailers, and Buy for Me, which can make purchases on a customer’s behalf. Shoppers can go to a seller’s site to buy directly or use Amazon’s AI purchasing feature to order some products. People familiar with the plan said broader product information could attract external AI agents to Amazon and help protect its advertising business. If outside agents direct shoppers to purchases at other retailers, Amazon may have fewer opportunities to receive visits or show ads.

An internal document listed October 1 next year as the target launch date, but neither implementation nor timing has been finalized. Amazon said the document was an old planning review and may not reflect its current plans.