Amazon has announced an AI-supported shopping assistant called Rufus, designed to make it easier to find and buy products on its platform, and is rolling out a beta version of the chatbot for some users in the US. Distinct from Amazon’s existing Alexa assistant, which is largely present in smart speakers, the Rufus assistant could help answer questions and find specific items like a Valentine’s Day gift or a dinosaur toy for a five-year-old, the company announced on Thursday. When it arrives in the Amazon Shopping app, Rufus can be used through the search bar, which users tap on to type or spe…