Master Amazon Shopping with New Audio Summaries!

Amazon is currently trialing an innovative feature that uses generative AI to create audio summaries on select product detail pages. This initiative aims to provide customers with quick spoken highlights of essential product features, making it more convenient for shoppers to grasp key information before making a purchase.

Dubbed “Hear the Highlights,” this feature delivers brief audio clips that summarize a product’s main attributes in about 30 seconds. If you’re in the U.S. and using the Amazon Shopping app, keep an eye out for the Hear the Highlights button on certain product listings. It will only be visible if an audio summary is available for that item.

As of now, this feature is available for a limited selection of products in categories such as electronics, home essentials, and personal care items. For example, you can try it out on the Ninja Blender product page in the Amazon app.

Amazon compares this new tool to having friends share insights about products they’re considering purchasing. In a recent blog post, the company noted,

Can the Audio Summary Enhance Your Shopping Experience?

The AI-generated summaries aim to be both natural-sounding and informative. When you activate the audio feature, a voice reminiscent of a real person provides a quick overview of the product’s main features and benefits.

Amazon claims that its AI analyzes thousands of validated customer reviews along with information sourced from the internet. The goal is to assist shoppers in making faster, well-informed decisions without wading through lengthy descriptions.

This isn’t the only AI feature on the site; Amazon’s Rufus chat also offers assistance with shopping choices. There’s some debate about its effectiveness, but many find it useful.

How often do we actually scroll through dense product descriptions and extensive feature lists? As someone who frequently shops online, I know it can be overwhelming, and important details can easily slip through the cracks.

Amazon’s audio summaries provide a handy shortcut. They also promote accessibility—especially for those who prefer multitasking or have visual impairments. Listening to a lively voice extolling a product’s virtues might just encourage me to click that purchase button, as it feels more engaging than slogging through numerous reviews. Let’s hope the AI remains unbiased and doesn’t overlook any product shortcomings while trying to persuade us.

If you use Amazon’s app or mobile website, be on the lookout for the “Hear the Highlights” button when Amazon rolls this feature out more broadly.