Amazon unveils new technology of AI-powered Kindle and different gadgets

AP Photo/Seth Wenig

AP Photo/Seth Wenig

AP Photo/Seth Wenig

AP Photo/Seth Wenig

NEW YORK (AP) — Online juggernaut Amazon Inc. unveiled its subsequent technology of Kindle, Ring and Echo gadgets, amongst different devices, which might be all powered by synthetic intelligence and related to Alexa+, its AI-infused private assistant, which made its debut in February.

The lineup, introduced at a presentation and showcase in New York, contains new cameras for its Ring video monitoring system with a brand new AI facial recognition characteristic that permits customers to register family and friends and notify them who’s on the entrance door.

Amazon unveiled 4 new Echo gadgets revamped with Alexa+ that serve up customized insights like whether or not the consumer left the entrance door unlocked after midnight. The Seattle-based firm additionally introduced a collection of Alexa+-infused Fire TVs that provide extra customized searches like discovering a particular scene in a film or getting commentary about final evening’s soccer recreation.

The presentation Tuesday was the primary massive product occasion for Panos Panay, who joined Amazon in 2023 to go up the corporate’s gadgets and companies groups after a 19-year profession at Microsoft the place he served as chief product officer.

Panay informed the viewers of a number of hundred journalists and bloggers that Alexa+ and synthetic intelligence are permitting expertise to work “in the background when you don’t.”

“Products creating subtle shifts in all our behavior, driven by AI, integrated into the hardware,” Panay mentioned. “And flowing natural through the products themselves. Whether it’s a camera catching what you missed. Or your Fire TV updating you on a game. Or your Kindle remembering exactly where you left off.”

Amazon’s effort to infuse extra AI into its system line-up is a part of expertise’s newest craze as all of the business’s main gamers jockey to achieve the higher hand.

The battle to date has targeted on leveraging AI to make smartphones even smarter and switch digital assistants into extra conversational and versatile companions higher geared up to assist individuals handle their lives.

So far Samsung and Google have been making extra important strides with the AI options on their gadgets than Apple has made with the iPhone, which still doesn’t have all of the instruments that the company promised more than a year ago. Meanwhile, OpenAI has joined forces with former Apple design guru Jony Ive to work on a wearable system constructed on AI expertise

PP Foresight analyst Paolo Pescatore wrote in a word Tuesday that the Amazon choices had been “a much needed refresh to the lineup, as it was starting to look a bit dated.”

“Attention to detail may not grab headlines, but it should not be overlooked, especially how the products look and feel, ” he wrote.”The newest technology of gadgets is designed to mix into customers’ lives with out them realizing they exist … Alexa+ is clearly the glue that holds the stack collectively…”

Here are some highlights:

A extra highly effective

doorbell:

Amazon has been increasing its dwelling security measures because the firm bought Wi-Fi-connected cameras and doorbell maker Ring in 2018. Amazon mentioned Tuesday that it’s infusing the system with extra expertise and upgraded cameras that may remodel the system right into a doorbell attendant and group device for pet homeowners amongst different new makes use of.

Amazon mentioned the ring cameras with retinal imaginative and prescient now include 2K decision for sharper element and 4K decision video. Amazon’s new AI facial recognition characteristic known as “Familiar Faces,” permits the consumer to register family and friends. The sensible doorbell, infused with Alexa+, may also be capable to handle deliveries and supply directions for supply employees amongst different duties.

For pet homeowners, Amazon has a brand new characteristic that helps homeowners reunite misplaced canine with their households. It works like this: A neighbor stories a misplaced canine within the Ring app, which might notify individuals close by with a Ring digital camera. The cameras would then use AI to search for a doable match with the misplaced canine.

Ring Wired Doorbell Pro, priced at $249.99 and Wired Doorbell Plus, priced at $179.99, amongst different Ring cameras, can be out there for pre-order on Tuesday, Amazon mentioned. Ring’s “Search Party” for canine will start rolling out in November, adopted by cats and different pets. And Alexa+ Greetings and Familiar Faces can be provided in December, the corporate mentioned.

An up to date lineup of Kindle Scribes:

Amazon unveiled new variations of the Kindle Scribe that the corporate touts as lighter and sooner and options an AI-powered pocket book search. One of them features a shade display.

The new Scribes characteristic bigger 11-inch, glare-free E Ink screens — up from 10.2 inches beforehand. They now weigh 400 grams in comparison with 433 grams for final 12 months’s model, the corporate mentioned. Executives famous that at 5.4 millimeters thick, these new variations are thinner than the iPhone Air, which measures 5.6 millimeters.

The new variations of Scribes will enable customers to entry paperwork saved on Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive, the corporate mentioned.

Amazon mentioned that later this 12 months within the U.S., Kindle Scribe can be out there beginning at $499.99 and Kindle Scribe Colorsoft can be provided beginning at $629.99.

New Alexa +Empowered Echo Devices:

Amazon unveiled 4 new Echo loud speaker gadgets — the Echo Dot Max, Echo Studio, Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11 — which might be particularly for Alexa+ and permit for extra customized experiences.

The new providing, which begins at $99.99, comes as Amazon stories that these prospects with early entry to Alexa+ are partaking with the private assistant twice as a lot and counting on it to do duties like reserving reservations and controlling sensible dwelling gadgets.

The new options acknowledge customers and churn out customized insights akin to an evaluation of how they slept final evening.

The firm mentioned that every one 4 new Echo gadgets can be found for pre-order beginning Tuesday.

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AP Technology Writer Michael Liedtke in San Francisco contributed to this report.

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