Amazon has unveiled a more advanced version of its virtual assistant, Alexa, which can better understand voice commands and perform tasks on behalf of users. However, the company didn’t announce any new Echo devices to go with the updated digital helper.
Panos Panay, head of Amazon’s devices and services business, hinted that new products are in development, but declined to provide details. He suggested that Amazon is working towards a broader vision, which includes a “constellation” of AI-powered devices that will enhance the user experience.
Amazon already has a range of smart devices, including Ring security cameras, Eero Wi-Fi routers, and Echo smart speakers. The company is integrating Alexa+ into some of these gadgets, allowing it to answer questions about what happened in the home while the owner was away based on camera footage.
Smart glasses with embedded virtual assistants are becoming increasingly popular, thanks to advancements in AI 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 been successful despite being released relatively recently.
Samsung and Google are also working on new Android versions specifically for smart glasses, suggesting a wave of spectacles is likely to come. However, Amazon’s Echo Frames, its own line of smart glasses, lack cameras and were released before the arrival of more advanced AI assistants.
For now, Amazon seems focused on developing Alexa rather than releasing new Echo devices. “We have an amazing lineup coming,” Panay said, but added that Alexa is still relatively new and has a lot to offer.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/27/tech/amazon-ai-devices/index.html