Amazon Refreshes Device Lineup to Integrate New AI-Powered Alexa+
Amazon unveiled its refreshed lineup of optimized devices for home security on Tuesday. The new upgrades consist mainly of the AI-infused Alexa+ voice assistant. At an event in New York, Amazon presented its Echo speakers, a new Kindle reader, Fire TV streaming devices, along with Ring and Blink cameras that will be made available later this year.
Amazon has invested billions of dollars and years in upgrading Alexa by integrating artificial intelligence that offers a personalized experience with a conversational tone. The company aims to turn its money-losing service into a profitable service venture.
Moreover, the firm has also announced that their new Echos song with Dots and Show devices that range from $99 to $219 will be designed to work with Alexa+, and will be integrated with new silicon chips for faster processing.
The new Blink cameras offer higher resolution for better monitoring outside as well as inside the home, with the Ring devices that facilitate facial recognition to restrict entry of unwanted visitors.
The Alexa+ enabled new Ring camera will be utilizing AI to determine the actions of a visitor, whether they are here to deliver a package, chasing someone’s house for intrusion, or something else. The device will be priced from $60 to $350 based on the camera quality and utility.
“It’s about knowing immediately whether your visitor is someone you know or someone you’ve never seen before,” said Jamie Siminoff, founder of the world’s first Wi-Fi video doorbell, who Amazon hired as the head of Ring earlier this year.
At the same time, a new feature will also be integrated into Ring cameras that will help to identify lost pet dogs in the neighborhood by notifying other community members with the same devices. “We’re turning individual concerns into community actions,” he added.
Panos Panay, Amazon’s device chief, also presented the new Kindle Scribe, a tablet for $630 that enables digital writing with a stylus, carrying a color screen for the first time.
Talking about the Kindle Scribe, Panay said, “It just feels like you’re writing on paper”.
The improved quality Fire TV television sets are priced at $160 to $480 with a $40 streaming stick that brings Alexa+ enabled features, including voice assistance to find and cue a particular scene in the movie or get all details about the actor.
