[Analemma_]

I don't think this is true. I heard the exact same claim about Alexa making it easier to order diapers or whatever with one voice command: "sure, HN users don't want this, but normal people do". But I know many non-tech people who have Amazon Echo devices, and they never, ever use them to buy things. For them it's a timer-setting device only. That's why Amazon wrote off that entire division as a billion-dollar loss.

I think "people want frictionless ways to purchase products" is a PM pipe dream more than a description of reality.

[foobarian]

> I think "people want frictionless ways to purchase products" is a PM pipe dream more than a description of reality.

I get what example you are referring to, but there are degrees here. For example the Buy Now flow really is handy; and I find I favor merchants that let me pay by scanning some kinda QR code from Apple Pay or Venmo. I definitely don't miss the friction of having to go dig out my credit card, mistype the cc#, type the wrong cvc if Amex, repeat the purchase after getting declined once and responding to a fraud text, etc.

[rhetocj23]

Its kinda bizarre really.

How does Alexa ever compare with the rich experience of interacting with a store through the various senses? Its typical that technologists tend to come up with this stuff and what happens in reality is wildly off compared to what was expected.

Buying stuff means spending money. it turns out most people don't have a lot of money (something that Mr Altman would never be able to understand given his privileged background) so they want to see and experience the transactions that take place. Same reason why this agent nonsense is not going to work from an economic stand point.