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The article discusses the concept of making Amazon a “dumb pipe,” which means transforming it into a convenient platform that allows users to access products and services from various sources while still maintaining its useful features such as inventory, shipping, predatory pricing, and search functionality. This idea is inspired by Library Extension, a browser plugin that lets users check if a book they are viewing on Amazon is available at their local library for borrowing. The author suggests that this approach can acknowledge the value of Amazon’s catalog, search, recommendations, and reviews while still encouraging users to support local retailers and pursue structural changes in society.