Amazon is changing online shopping again. On March 10, 2026, Amazon Ads announced that Sponsored Products prompts and Sponsored Brands prompts would move from open beta to general availability in the United States on March 25, 2026. These AI-powered prompts can appear in search results and on product detail pages. When a shopper clicks one, Amazon may answer directly on the page or open a conversation in Rufus, Amazon’s AI shopping assistant. Rufus is designed to help customers research categories, compare products, and ask detailed questions by using Amazon’s catalog, reviews, community Q&As, and information from across the web. (advertising.amazon.com)
For brands, the biggest change is simple: selling is becoming more conversational. In the past, success often depended on winning keyword searches. Now, brands also need to be ready for shopper questions such as “Is this good for beginners?” or “Which one is better for small spaces?” Amazon says these prompts use first-party signals from product detail pages, Brand Stores, campaign data, and more. That suggests a new rule for marketers: your product page is no longer just a page to read. It is also a source of knowledge for AI. If your product information is clear, specific, and helpful, Amazon’s system has better material to use when shoppers are close to buying. (advertising.amazon.com)
Another important point is that brands do not need to build this system from zero. Amazon says existing Sponsored Products and Sponsored Brands campaigns are automatically enrolled, with no extra setup required. Advertisers can review prompt text and performance data such as impressions, clicks, and orders in the Ads Console or through the API, and they can pause prompts if needed. Amazon also says these prompt ads will be charged under existing cost-per-click billing rules. (advertising.amazon.com)
So, how will brand selling change? Probably in a very human way. The best brands may be the ones that explain their products clearly, answer real customer worries, and build trust before the shopper even asks. In Amazon’s AI era, a strong brand may sound less like a loud advertisement and more like a smart, helpful expert available 24 hours a day. (advertising.amazon.com)










