“We realized letting users browse without our constant verbal interjections was a missed engagement opportunity,” said Ty Ping, VP of Digital Retention. “The new Alexa.com isn’t just a chatbot; it is a dedicated family member who physically blocks the doorway until you acknowledge a limited-time sale on bulk paper towels.”

Tabitha Close, a paralegal working late in a quiet downtown office, tried to minimize the window during a client video call. “My wrist hurts from the tug-of-war,” she said, the frantic clicking sound of her mouse echoing in the empty room. “Every time I pull left, the blue ring pulls right and smiles blankly while reciting facts about the weather in Tucson.”

At press time, the company rolled out a “Travel Mode” where Alexa escapes the browser entirely to hover over competitor sites, whispering “I can get that cheaper” like a haunted pop-up ad.

Inspired by Amazon’s AI assistant comes to the web with Alexa.com.