Amazon may be looking to disrupt the Web browser market with a product with artificial intelligence, which could pose a major threat to established players.
Amazon recently sent out a survey to users asking them what they like in a web browser. Nicholas De Leon of Consumer Reports tweeted about the survey:
Hmm, is Amazon thinking about making a web browser? I'm not sure how else this could be interpreted. @DanaMattioli pic.twitter.com/TNwgIa37qT
— Nicholas De Leon (@nicholasadeleon) March 13, 2023
Gizmodo got its hands on a copy of the survey, and the questions include what features people like and what would convince them to try a new web browser. AI integration is one of the chosen features. While this certainly doesn’t indicate that a product launch is imminent, it’s a pretty good confirmation that one is being considered.
In the survey, Amazon makes it clear that by responding, users would be contributing to innovations that could improve the browsing experience for millions. That’s no small feat!
This can be inferred from the survey itself, which addresses issues such as:
- synchronization
- privacy
- purchasing options
- speech synthesis
- extensions
- third-party tracker blocking
Basically, the list consists of the bare minimum that a modern user has the right to expect from a browser. But, there is also the last point, which is quite unique. As a rule, browsers do not offer such built-in options, which could be an important selling point for a new browser.
Amazon has everything to make it happen
But wait, what exactly would Amazon’s game plan be? The company is already the largest online retailer in the U.S., has a successful production company and its own streaming service. Well, you see, even though it’s not known for that, Amazon is also a player in the advertising business, which is currently more profitable for the company than Prime.
Amazon’s last attempt at a web browser was back in 2011 with Silk. While technically it was a browser, it was very limited and more intended to complement other products of the company. This time around, it’s more like a real browser.
The Web browser market is relatively crowded, but it is dominated by Google Chrome and Apple’s Safari. Firefox is a distant third, with all other browsers fighting for scraps.
Amazon has the brand awareness and integration with established services that may make it the most disruptive newcomer since Google Chrome.
