AI tools in commerce and operations, with the claims checked.
Amazon's AI shopping assistant, Alexa for Shopping, can now handle more than 100 new actions such as registries, Subscribe & Save changes and refund checks. Amazon says 400 million customers used it in a year.
Zendesk introduced Employee Service AI Agents and Advanced Action Flows for IT and HR requests, with general availability rolling out from November 3 and extra automated resolutions priced at $0.99 each.
Walmart announced Agent Profiles, an MCP-based Agent Gateway and published terms that let customers' AI assistants shop at Walmart and Sam's Club under spending limits and approval rules.
Google launched Universal Cart in the U.S., a cross-retailer cart in Search, AI Mode and the Gemini app with price alerts, card-perk suggestions and Google Pay checkout built on its Universal Commerce Protocol.
A New York Fed analysis of 5,248 small employers found AI users far more likely than non-users to expect higher employment and revenue, though the authors note these are expectations, not outcomes.
