More than 10 years ago, before people were even talking about “AI agents.” Amazon has launched digital voice assistant Alexa and smart speaker brand Echo.
I remember using this and thinking that there is definitely a future for this kind of device. Now, with major advances in AI models, Alexa has been upgraded and Amazon is thinking about a world where its voice assistant can accompany you wherever you are.
Driving today’s gadget and AI push is The Tech Download’s newest guest, Amazon’s head of hardware and services, Panos Panay.
Panay explained his vision for Alexa+, the latest and improved version of Alexa’s AI. The idea is that this assistant will learn about your life and perform tasks based on context.
“Now we can be more situational. You can just say what’s on your mind and the assistant will support you through the day and help you do what you want to do,” Panay said.
Amazon’s expansion into devices includes wearables with the acquisition of Bee, a startup that makes speakers, doorbells, and even wristband devices. Alexa is at the heart of connecting all of this, Panay said, in a world where “we may be moving away from a world of apps and screens.”
Smartphones have long been at the center of our digital lives. Now that AI is even more advanced, what if we no longer need a screen and instead can do more with our voice? This is what Amazon and other device companies are thinking. What the best gadgets of the future will be is still up for debate. But Amazon certainly has a few things in store.
“I have a lot of devices in my lab,” Panay said, adding that there is a “whole roadmap of devices that can be used on the go.”
The last big takeaway from the conversation was about semiconductors. If you know me, you know that chips are one of my favorite topics. Panay spoke publicly for the first time about Amazon’s efforts in semiconductors for home appliances.
“Right now, for some of our more critical devices, we’re focused on end-to-end silicon,” Panay said.
This means Amazon designs the chips that go into its devices. That’s exactly apple playbook. By gaining greater control over hardware and software integration, Amazon will be able to offer a more differentiated experience around Alexa.
There’s a lot more to the podcast. Give it a listen and let me know what you think.
Latest updates
Autonomous defense startup Quantum Systems has raised $1.2 billion in a Series D funding round, valuing it at about $8 billion post-money, the company announced Thursday.
Thursday’s European Supreme Court ruling upheld Google Fine of approximately 4.1 billion euros ($4.67 billion) for alleged anti-competitive conduct.
Anthropic announced Tuesday that U.S. export restrictions on its Claude Fabre 5 and Mythos 5 models have been lifted, ending the latest dramatic standoff between the AI company and the Trump administration.
OpenAI, Anthropic’s backer MGX, announced Wednesday that it has raised the largest AI fund in history with a closing of $49 billion.
Trump bought Apple Nvidia Other tech giants were also doing well before the tariff rollback spurred a rebound, according to a CNBC analysis.
This week’s stock
Tesla stock.
tesla Stocks fell on Thursday even as the automaker reported second-quarter deliveries and production levels that far exceeded Wall Street expectations.
