Amazon's recently launched AI shopping feature "Buy For Me" is facing strong complaints from small business owners. This new technology aims to simplify the shopping process but has sparked many controversies during its implementation. Feedback from multiple independent merchants shows that Amazon's AI tool has scraped and altered their website product information without permission, leading to pricing chaos, order errors, and consumer confusion.
According to reports, affected merchants found their products automatically appearing on Amazon's platform, including items that had already been removed from their own websites. This situation not only harmed the merchants' interests but also caused confusion for consumers when purchasing. Many merchants say that the process of seeking redress after discovering the issue was very difficult, as they struggled to communicate with Amazon and find solutions.
Notably, as the number of complaints increases, some intellectual property lawyers have begun considering legal action against Amazon. They believe that Amazon's "default automatic enrollment" strategy and AI modifications to content may violate the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, anti-unfair competition laws, and regulations set by the Federal Trade Commission. These legal provisions aim to protect merchants' intellectual property rights and ensure a fair competitive environment.
This incident not only reveals the complex relationship between e-commerce platforms and merchants but could also drive improvements in relevant regulatory frameworks. As more small businesses are affected, public attention continues to rise, with both merchants and consumers calling for a more transparent and fair online shopping environment.
In summary, this move by Amazon has put a lot of pressure on small merchants, who hope to find solutions quickly to restore normal business operations. In the future, with stronger regulation, it may better protect the legitimate rights and interests of these small businesses and ensure the healthy development of the e-commerce ecosystem.
