Amazon has a ‘slew of AI devices' coming, hardware chief says
Amazon debuted a more sophisticated version of Alexa on Wednesday that's more conversational and can handle tasks on your behalf. But in a surprising departure from its usual playbook, the company didn't announce new Echo devices to go with its revamped digital helper.
But that might not be the case for long.
While Panos Panay, head of Amazon's devices and services business, wouldn't say whether the company was considering a new version of its Alexa-enabled smart glasses with cameras to compete with Meta's Ray-Bans, he did suggest that new products are in the works. 'But I think you can imagine, there's going to be a whole slew of AI devices that are coming,' he told CNN in an interview.
His remarks come as tech giants are racing to incorporate AI agents and chatbots into new devices. Apple's artificial intelligence suite, Apple Intelligence, was the headlining feature of Apple's iPhone 16 lineup, including the cheaper iPhone 16e that was just announced last week. Microsoft has also made its Copilot virtual helper the centerpiece of its ubiquitous Windows PC operating system.
Panay declined to offer more details on the nature of the 'slew of AI devices.'
But he suggested new products would be part of a larger overall vision. 'You can imagine… a constellation of devices that has to come together to make it a better experience,' Panay added.
Amazon already has a 'constellation' of devices, from its Ring security cameras to its Eero Wi-Fi routers and, of course, its Echo smart speakers. And it's starting to incorporate Alexa+ into some of those gadgets; Alexa+ will be able to answer questions about what happened in your home while you were gone based on Ring camera footage, for example. The company has also dabbled in smart rings and fitness trackers in addition to its Alexa-powered glasses.
But smart glasses, or glasses that have embedded virtual assistants and can play music and deliver phone notifications, are becoming more relevant thanks to improved AI models that can process both visual and speech input.
Meta's Ray Ban glasses, which can translate language and answer questions about what a user is looking at, have seemingly caught on with people so far, at least somewhat. While the numbers pale in comparison to the numbers of consumer electronics, like iPhones, Ray-Ban parent company EssilorLuxottica reported this month that two million pairs have been sold since their 2023 debut.
Samsung and Google also announced last year that they're building a new version of Android specifically for smart glasses in the future, hinting that a wave of new spectacles are likely to come.
But Amazon's glasses, called the Echo Frames, lack cameras and arguably came too soon – long before the arrival of Alexa+ and other AI assistants that can process sight and sound simultaneously.
But for now, Amazon is keeping its focus on Alexa.
'We have an amazing lineup coming,' Panay said of future hardware devices. 'But we also have an amazing lineup in market, and Alexa (is) so new.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Driverless-trucking developer Plus to go public via merger
Plus, an autonomous driving software provider, announced on Thursday it will become a publicly traded company through a merger with Churchill Capital Corp IX. The combined company will operate as PlusAI. 'This transaction provides access to capital and strategic support that will help us advance our product roadmap, execute our development and commercialization strategy, and deliver a transformative logistics solution to one of the world's largest and most essential industries,' David Liu, co-founder and CEO of Plus, said in a news release. Santa Clara, California-based Plus was founded by Liu and Stanford University classmate Shawn Kerrigan in 2016. The company develops AI-based virtual driver software for factory-built autonomous has deployed autonomous driving technology across the U.S., Europe and Asia, which has been used for more than 5 million miles of driving. The company provides autonomous software to global truck manufacturers Traton Group, Hyundai and Iveco. The company's self-driving system, known as SuperDrive is built to autonomously operate heavy commercial trucks. In April, Plus achieved a key driver-out safety validation milestone with SuperDrive and is currently conducting public road testing in Texas and Sweden, the company said. Additional customer fleet trials are scheduled for fall. SuperDrive will initially be targeted to truck manufacturers in the U.S. and then expand to Europe. Plus will market SuperDrive as a driver-as-a-service model, providing autonomous software to enable trucking firms with recurring per-mile valued at $1.2 billion pre-money equity value, will provide an attractive entry point for Churchill IX shareholders, officials said. 'After evaluating many opportunities, we knew Plus was the right partner,' Michael Klein, chairman and CEO of Churchill IX, said in a statement. 'Trucking is the backbone of the global economy, but the industry faces a persistent driver shortage that autonomous trucking has the potential to solve. Broad adoption depends on confidence in vehicle performance and safety and Plus stands out with its advanced virtual driver platform and a customer-centric commercialization model led by OEM partners.' Churchill IX is a so-called blank check company, formed for the purpose of targeting other firms for mergers. The transaction is expected to deliver $300 million in gross proceeds from cash held in Churchill IX's trust account, which is expected to fund Plus through its commercial launch of SuperDrive-enabled, factory-built autonomous trucks by 2027. It's not the first time that Plus was rumored to be in talks to go public. In April 2021, Plus was reportedly close to merging with Hennessy Capital Investment Corp. V, a special purpose acquisition company. The post Driverless-trucking developer Plus to go public via merger appeared first on FreightWaves.
Tom's Guide
25 minutes ago
- Tom's Guide
Nothing's first pair of real headphones are coming soon — here's what we know so far
Nothing is back at it with a new hardware reveal in the Nothing Headphone (1), slated for official debut alongside its Phone (3) on July 1. Nothing CEO Carl Pei voiced his optimism about the forthcoming set of gadgets, citing the launch at the tail end of his speech at SXSW London on Thursday. It's likely to be the brand's first set of over-ear headphones, which have so far designed some of the best wireless earbuds. There's very little we know about the new Nothing Headphone (1), though Pei did confirm the naming. It fits with alternative Nothing-branded devices, such as the Nothing Ear (3) and Nothing (open). One thing you can expect is a ChatGPT integration as seen across Nothing's audio and smartphone lineup. We tried ChatGPT with the Nothing Ear to solid results, and it's cropped up on almost every release so far, so it would only make sense for it to debut on the Nothing Headphone (1), as well. You can also expect a competitive price. Nothing might be known for premium products, but it usually stamps them with a significant value proposition. Most Headphone (1) pricing rumors suggest around $400, which undercuts the new Sony WH1000-XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones by about $50. Another particular highlight for Nothing's brand is its design ethos. It loves its transparent technology and LED glyph lighting, made popular on its Nothing Ear (1) and Nothing Phone (1). Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Mockups abound on what the Nothing Headphone (1) could inevitably look like. While mostly relegated to its smartphone side, it would be interesting to see Nothing's glyph design pop up on the Headphone (1), especially in reference to certain modes or features like ANC, incoming calls, or ChatGPT. The glyph integration could not only put Sony and Apple in their place, but mark it as one of the best headphones in terms of chic alone. Nothing recently announced an ongoing audio partnership with KEF, a high-end speaker and headphone maker, but reports suggest this most likely pertains to the Phone (3)'s internal speakers. We'll have to wait and see. More information about Nothing's first-ever pair of headphones is set to be unveiled on July 1 alongside the Phone (3) itself.
Engadget
25 minutes ago
- Engadget
The Sonos Era 300 is on sale for 20 percent off right now
Sonos is selling a bunch of its speakers at a discount on its own site and Amazon. This includes the well-regarded Era 300 smart speaker, which is down to just $359. That's 20 percent off and notable because this particular speaker rarely goes on sale. It's a Sonos miracle! The deal applies to both the black and white colorways. The Era 300 is a highly capable device that we praised in our official review, saying that it "sounds excellent." We went on to say that it offers a premium experience that far surpasses other products in the company's lineup, like the Era 100. This is also true when compared to rival speakers like Apple's HomePod. It's simple to set up and offers the company's proprietary Trueplay tuning system. This feature optimizes the sound of the speaker to the unique acoustics of a room by leveraging an internal microphone. It measures how sound reflects off surfaces and adjusts the EQ to match. It's pretty nifty. As for connectivity, it can pair with another Era 300 speaker for a true stereo experience. It also includes a Bluetooth receiver and line-in options. Of course, the speaker integrates with just about every streaming music service. The built-in mic also allows for voice assistant control, but only with Siri and Alexa. Google Assistant is left out of the party. This speaker goes all-in on spatial audio, and the results are mixed. Sometimes it's sublime and sometimes it's kind of eh. This is more of a dig on the technology itself. It has serious potential but is still experiencing growing pains. The only real downside of this speaker is the exorbitant asking price, which has been slightly alleviated by this sale. As previously mentioned, other Sonos products are available at a discount. This includes the Sonos Beam Gen 2 soundbar, which is 26 percent off at $369. These deals are available via Sonos itself. There's also an ongoing sale on portable speakers that includes the Move 2 and the Roam 2. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice .
