#526 - Stop Believing Nonsense on Amazon Rufus (Alexa For Shopping)!

Has AI really changed Amazon search? Learn what Rufus or Alexa for Shopping means for keywords, product research, and finding new Amazon opportunities before your competitors do. Has Rufus now called Alexa for Shopping completely changed the way shoppers search on Amazon, or are sellers overreacting to the AI hype? In this episode of the AM/PM Podcast, Bradley Sutton records from the Maldives for part one of his annual Maldives Honeymoon Launch series and breaks down what has changed, what has not changed, and why Amazon sellers should still care deeply about keywords, indexing, and traditional search. Bradley explains that AI has absolutely changed e-commerce, but not necessarily in the way many people think. Rufus (Quick note: Rufus is now rebranded as Alexa for Shopping) can make the shopping journey easier, especially when customers are looking for solutions rather than a specific product. But when shoppers already know what they want, traditional Amazon search is still one of the fastest paths to purchase. Bradley also explains how optimizing for Amazon search can help sellers optimize for Rufus, using real examples of products missing important keywords and disappearing from both search results and Rufus recommendations. The episode then shifts into product research strategies sellers can use to find new opportunities in 2026 and beyond. Bradley walks through keyword-based research using title density, search volume, review count, and sales filters, while also comparing those methods against raw AI suggestions that can produce unreliable data. He also explains how sellers can use free Amazon tools, such as Brand Analytics and Opportunity Explorer, to uncover low-conversion keywords, weakly competitive products, and products shoppers are searching for but not finding. Bradley also shares creative ways to discover product ideas outside of standard research tools, including spotting trends on Etsy and Pinterest, applying saturated products to new niches, taking advantage of quick-moving pop culture trends, finding abandoned “zombie listings,” and using old-school product filters that still work today. The big takeaway: AI matters, Rufus matters, but the fundamentals of Amazon product research and keyword strategy are far from dead. Sellers who combine new AI awareness with proven data-driven research methods can still find serious opportunities before the market gets crowded. For part two of this Maldives Honeymoon Launch series, head over to the Serious Sellers Podcast and listen to episode 750. Bradley goes deeper into keyword research, launch strategy, and how to get new products ranking on page one within days: https://h10.me/750 In episode 526 of the AM/PM Podcast, Bradley covers: 00:00 - Introduction 00:35 - The Maldives Honeymoon Launch Series 02:25 - How AI Has Changed E-Commerce 04:54 - Why Sellers Are Overreacting to Rufus/Alexa for Shopping Hype 08:58 - Product Discovery vs. Solution Discovery 11:26 - Why Keyword Research Still Matters 13:53 - Are Prime Members Using Rufus/Alexa for Shopping Instead of Search? 16:14 - Amazon Search Query Performance Data 18:01 - Product Research Strategies for 2026 22:28 - Using Amazon’s Free Product Research Tools 24:12 - Creative Ways to Find Product Opportunities 27:47 - Finding Zombie Listings and Old-School Opportunities