Amazon has simplified some order-related emails, replacing product names and thumbnails with broad categories such as “Beauty,” “Hardware,” or “Nutrition & Wellness.” Customers began reporting the change in July, while orders placed as recently as June still included the exact item names and images. The new emails use general category illustrations and require shoppers to open Amazon’s app or website to identify the specific products ordered. Customers have said the vague notifications make purchases harder to track and can resemble spam or phishing messages. Amazon spokesperson Maxine Tagay said the company simplified the emails because customers increasingly use phones and the Amazon app’s Your Orders page for consolidated, real-time order and delivery information. Tagay said limiting details in email also reduces customer information shared outside Amazon’s app and website. The change comes as Google and other technology companies develop AI shopping tools that can use email and other personal data to assist with purchases. Google has introduced AI-powered shopping features and said in May that it planned to integrate a cross-merchant shopping cart into Gmail. Amazon has pursued its own AI shopping features, including price tracking, automatic purchasing, and Alexa for Shopping, while seeking to preserve a direct relationship with shoppers.

Kinney Drugs pulls back AI phone assistant after hundreds of customer complaints BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - Kinney Drugs is scaling back its AI assistant after customers reported incoherent calls, wrong dosages, and missed prescription notifications. Kinney Drugs first introduced Burt, an AI assistant named after the pharmacy chain’s founder, back in May. The bot’s role was to communicate with patie...

A restaurant owner prioritizes human connection by requiring customers to call for reservations instead of using online booking systems. This practice fosters personal interactions and recognition, contrasting with the industry standard of online bookings.

Sierra has raised $950 million in funding, led by Tiger Global and GV, achieving a valuation of over $15 billion. The company plans to invest over $1 billion to establish itself as the global standard for AI-driven customer experience transformation, currently serving over 40% of Fortune 500 companies.

OpenAI focuses on starting with customer experience and working backwards to technology development. Researchers at OpenAI aim to create innovative solutions that enhance their chat and enterprise products.