Amazon on Monday introduced a new feature that allows anyone to design products using AI, posing further challenges to online product platforms such as Redbubble, Bonfire, Spring, and Fourthwall. The company announced that you can now create new products using AI prompts through the shopping app’s Alexa feature.
That way, anyone can turn their ideas into designs and feature them on items from apparel to tumblers and more that can be purchased through Amazon’s print-on-demand service, Merch on Demand.
Amazon suggests that the service could be useful for printing one-off designs, such as creating T-shirts for family gatherings, some types of personal gifts, or products featuring a portrait of your dog. (Of course, artists whose work has been used to train AI models may not be too keen on this kind of idea.)
After creating a design, Amazon will take care of manufacturing and shipping the product through Prime Shipping, the company said.
The move will bring AI-generated products directly within Amazon’s shopping app, lowering the barrier for consumers who want to turn ideas into physical products but lack traditional design skills. Print-on-demand businesses have typically catered to the needs of creators and various organizations, but Amazon’s new features could mean AI-designed products become just a shopping option.
Amazon says this option is currently only available in the US. Use of this feature is free as the customer only pays for the product.
To use this feature, customers can tap the Alexa icon in the bottom right corner of the Amazon Shopping app, or search for “Customize” in the search bar and click the drop-down option. This provides an experience where users can describe their ideas to Alexa and see the designs generated. Users can edit the design by clicking the suggested actions or by entering changes. Results can be shared with friends and family, and everyone can add items to their Amazon shopping cart.
The complete list of supported products includes T-shirts, V-necks, long sleeve shirts, polos, quarter zips, jerseys, hoodies, sweatshirts, tank tops, raglans, tumblers, and water bottles.
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