“What’s in a name?” said Shakespeare. But sometimes names can have deeper meanings. Consider the world of AI chatbots. Names are as diverse as the tasks they perform. Google’s “Gemini” evokes a sense of duality, alluding to the chatbot’s ability to understand and respond to both sides of a conversation. Microsoft’s “Copilot” positions itself as a helpful companion. AI chatbot names are chosen for symbolism, functionality, and sometimes purely memorable, like Amazon’s AI chatbot Rufus.
In 1996, about two years after the company was founded, there was a Welsh Corgi named Rufus who roamed the first Amazon warehouse and loved meetings.
“His mark on the company has been greater than his parents, Susan and Eric Benson, ever anticipated,” Amazon said in a statement. Today, there are more than 10,000 dogs working alongside Amazon employees in its offices.
Rufus “lives” in Amazon's Seattle headquarters
Rufus is the name behind Amazon's latest generative AI-powered shopping assistant. Not only that, but the company has a building named after him and a photo commemorating him in its Seattle headquarters. Amazon owes its amazing dog-friendly culture to Rufus.
How Rufus got into Amazon is a story in itself: Eric and Susan asked then-CEO Jeff Bezos if they could bring Rufus to work, to which Eric recalls he replied, “He's a good dog.”
When Amazon signed contracts with new landlords for warehouse space, it made sure to include Rufus' name.
Amazon increased the price of “Good Boy” from one person to one pack
As Amazon's business boomed and the company moved downtown, the Bensons set themselves up for trouble when they brought their dog, Rufus, to work: Other employees also started sneaking their dogs in, but emails were sent out reminding everyone that only Rufus had official permission.
One day, the former financial executive replied, “From now on, I'm going to name all my dogs Rufus.” The response “was a wonderful moment,” Susan recalls. Rufus died in 2009 at age 15.
In 1996, about two years after the company was founded, there was a Welsh Corgi named Rufus who roamed the first Amazon warehouse and loved meetings.
“His mark on the company has been greater than his parents, Susan and Eric Benson, ever anticipated,” Amazon said in a statement. Today, there are more than 10,000 dogs working alongside Amazon employees in its offices.
Rufus “lives” in Amazon's Seattle headquarters
Rufus is the name behind Amazon's latest generative AI-powered shopping assistant. Not only that, but the company has a building named after him and a photo commemorating him in its Seattle headquarters. Amazon owes its amazing dog-friendly culture to Rufus.
How Rufus got into Amazon is a story in itself: Eric and Susan asked then-CEO Jeff Bezos if they could bring Rufus to work, to which Eric recalls he replied, “He's a good dog.”
When Amazon signed contracts with new landlords for warehouse space, it made sure to include Rufus' name.
Amazon increased the price of “Good Boy” from one person to one pack
As Amazon's business boomed and the company moved downtown, the Bensons set themselves up for trouble when they brought their dog, Rufus, to work: Other employees also started sneaking their dogs in, but emails were sent out reminding everyone that only Rufus had official permission.
One day, the former financial executive replied, “From now on, I'm going to name all my dogs Rufus.” The response “was a wonderful moment,” Susan recalls. Rufus died in 2009 at age 15.
