AI: Amazon's AI powered Alexa+ Echo devices here. RTZ #861

One of the big AI revamping projects for Amazon with Alexa/Echo, and Apple with Siri/Homepod, have been front and center for investors this AI Tech Wave the last couple of years.

Especially since OpenAI’s ChatGPT Moment over a thousand days ago, both companies have been focused on revamping their voice device platforms Alexa and Siri respectively with Generative AI. Google is also in the AI smart devices race, with its own rollouts this week.

And while both Amazon Alexa+ and Apple Siri have been delayed for a range of reasons, they are nearing delivery dates from now into next year. For Amazon, that day was today with its big launch of updated Alexa+, along with updated Kindle and other hardware products. For Apple, an AI powered Siri, and related devices, are still a 2026 delivery project.

Amazon’s AI Alexa rollout though was eventful, as outlined by Bloomberg today:

“New speakers include revamped look, upgraded silicon and integration with Alexa+ subscription service.”

• “Amazon is introducing new Echo devices, including the Echo Dot Max and Echo Studio, as well as revamped Echo Show models with redesigned 8-inch and 11-inch screens.”

• “The new devices feature simpler designs, higher-end materials, and major upgrades to in-device silicon, with the Echo Dot Max and Echo Studio having a unified look with a 3D-knitted fabric and dynamic lighting system.”

• “The new Echos will ship with Alexa+, Amazon’s artificially intelligent voice interface, and the company aims to squeeze more revenue from the lineup by charging more for the devices and nudging customers toward an Amazon Prime subscription.”

“Amazon is kicking off an end-to-end overhaul of its hardware business by rebuilding two of its flagship Alexa devices: the Echo and the Echo Show.

The lineup includes devices with and without displays, all with Alexa+ as a tiered service.

“The company is introducing the Echo Dot Max, a $100 smart speaker designed to compete with similarly priced products from Apple Inc. and Alphabet Inc.’s Google, as well as the $220 Echo Studio, its highest-end speaker for audiophiles. Amazon is also revamping the Echo Show, its smart speaker with a screen, with redesigned 8-inch and 11-inch models priced at $180 and $220, respectively.”

And it’s all under new management:

“Panos Panay with the Echo Dot Max and new Echo Studio”

“These Alexa-driven products are the first to be fully reimagined under the leadership of Panos Panay, the former Microsoft Corp. chief product officer known for his premium design sensibility. Since joining Amazon as head of hardware and Alexa two years ago, Panay has pushed for simpler designs, higher-end materials and major upgrades to in-device silicon.”

“We have the best-sounding speaker for its size ever made, ever in history, in this room right now,” Panay said of the Dot Max in an interview with Bloomberg News ahead of the introduction. “My opinion, but I’ve benchmarked it everywhere. You don’t need five $500 speakers.” The new devices are available for pre-order Tuesday, with the screenless Echos arriving on Oct. 29 and the Shows coming Nov. 12.”

Other products were updated as well:

“Earlier in a presentation on Tuesday in New York, Amazon introduced a revamped line-up of Kindles, including its first Scribe model with a color display. It also announced a cheaper, $40 Fire TV Stick with support for 4K video streaming and several upgraded cameras and features from its Ring and Blink smart home security brands.”

But the star of the show of course is Alexa+:

“The new Echos will also be the first to ship out of the box with Alexa+, Amazon’s artificially intelligent voice interface. Alongside the design upgrades, the company aims to squeeze more revenue from the lineup — by charging more (the new Studio costs $20 more than its predecessor, while the Show 8 gets an $80 hike), and by nudging customers toward an Amazon Prime subscription, which now includes access to Alexa+.”

Apple is not far behind with its AI Siri and related devices next year:

“Apple is working on a similar product with a roughly 7-inch screen for next year, while Google has also long sold speakers with displays. Amazon launched the Echo Show in 2017, becoming one of the first device makers to build a speaker with a touch-screen and video chat capabilities.”

Amazon also stressed some of the AI sensing technologies built into the new devices:

“Amazon’s new Omnisense system lets the Echo Show recognize users and automatically display such personal data as how they slept — an offering created from a new partnership with smart ring maker Oura — and their podcasts, news, music and interface preferences”

“For Panay, these types of features are the calling card for his new hardware vision. “It’s one thing to have a beautiful piece of hardware, and it’s another thing to bring these together with ambient intelligence,” he said.”

And a reason for mainstream users for potentially upgrading to and using the new AI features. And the initial media reactions from the Verge for example, are positive:

“Today, Amazon launched the Echo Dot Max ($99.99) and a new Echo Studio ($219.99), as well as two new smart displays: the Echo Show 8 ($179.99) and the Echo Show 11 ($219.99). I got hands-on time with the new hardware ahead of the announcements in New York City, and my first impression is that Amazon has finally delivered a polished, powerful lineup — one that could cement Alexa Plus’ early lead as the smart home’s first true AI.”

“The new Echos are more elegant, have more thoughtful designs (no bright red LEDs when muted), and an attention to detail I didn’t think Amazon was capable of (color-matched cables!). But more importantly, a new family of AZ3 processors means these pack more power and run new edge-based computing capabilities that can process data from a slew of new and improved sensors to make your smart home smarter.”

Bloomberg goes on to ouline the company’s aspirations:

“While the new Echos can be downgraded to standard Alexa, the company believes most people will stick with the higher-end variant. Rausch says the new version has two to three times the usage of regular Alexa and has driven 25% more music playback, Fire TV usage and people interacting with their smart-home devices.”

The full piece is worth a read as well as this interview with Alexa/Echo head Panay outlining the broader, long-term strategy.

But the mainstream big tech companies are now rolling out AI enabled versions of their big voice platforms. A

nd with Apple up at bat next year, along with OpenAI’s AI devices via the Jony Ive io acquisition, the roadmap is getting clearer for new AI devices in this AI Tech Wave. Stay tuned.

(NOTE: The discussions here are for information purposes only, and not meant as investment advice at any time. Thanks for joining us here)