Amazon AI Programs Scrape Competitor Websites Without Permission, Sparking Retailer Backlash
Summary
Amazon's experimental AI programs 'Shop Direct' and 'Buy for Me' scrape competitor websites without permission to list products, prompting backlash from over 180 retailers who report receiving unwanted orders for items they don't sell or that are out of stock.
Key Points
- Amazon faces backlash from online retailers over its 'Shop Direct' and 'Buy for Me' AI programs that scrape and list products from other websites without permission
- Over 180 businesses report receiving unwanted orders through Amazon's AI agent, with some retailers discovering listings for products they don't sell or that are out of stock
- Amazon defends the experimental programs as helping customers find unavailable products while allowing businesses to opt out by emailing the company directly