Echo news and trends

Alexa Goes Everywhere and Amazon Adds Generative AI to Marketplace Search 
Amazon // May 17, 2023

It was only a matter of time before Amazon ramped up the race to build a better voice-driven artificial intelligence (AI) experience versus a field of serious competitors, and the eCommerce titan has come out swinging with new products, and bigger plans in the pipeline. The...

Amazon Begins Layoffs in Devices & Services Organization 
Amazon // November 16, 2022

Amazon has notified employees of layoffs after deciding to consolidate some teams and programs within its Devices & Services organization.  The firm did not specify the number of employees affected, but said it notified them Tuesday (Nov. 16), according to a blog post on the...

Amazon, Google Hear Consumers, Crank Up Volume of Voice Commerce Touchpoints
Retail // September 19, 2022

The chorus supporting expansion of voice commerce and smart home applications has gotten considerably louder in 2022 as Amazon specifically brings Alexa deeper into connecting consumers with sellers via an ongoing introduction of new tools and capabilities. At its annual Amazon Accelerate conference for independent...

Teladoc Health Launches Amazon Collaboration
Healthcare // February 28, 2022

Virtual care provider Teladoc Heath has launched a collaboration with Amazon Alexa to provide care on Echo devices such the Echo, Echo Dot, and Echo Show. The partnership – announced in a news release Monday (Feb. 28) – will initially involve Teladoc launching on Alexa...

Interviews & Exclusives
Alexa Goes Everywhere and Amazon Adds Generative AI to Marketplace Search 

May 17, 2023
It was only a matter of time before Amazon ramped up the race to build a better voice-driven artificial intelligence (AI) experience versus a field of serious competitors, and the eCommerce titan has come out swinging with new products, and bigger plans in the pipeline. The news comes via a series of announcements and other signals. […]

Amazon’s Latest Devices Zero In On The Power Of The Connected Home

September 24, 2020
There were the things everyone expected to see at Amazon’s hardware event on Thursday (Sept. 24), like new Echo devices and Fire TV upgrades. And then there were the things...

Alexa’s Expanding Ecosystem

January 08, 2020
When Alexa was first introduced in November 2014, it didn’t look much like the next big thing in user interfaces. There wasn’t very much like it in the market at...

SoundHound GM: The Future Of Voice May Not Go By ‘Google’ Or ‘Alexa’

May 11, 2018
Twenty years ago, if the radio played a song you liked, you had to put your ear to the speaker and hope the DJ said the title and artist so...

Quick Reads
Amazon Begins Layoffs in Devices & Services Organization 

November 16, 2022
Amazon has notified employees of layoffs after deciding to consolidate some teams and programs within its Devices & Services organization.  The firm did not specify the number of employees affected, but said it notified them Tuesday (Nov. 16), according to a blog post on the company’s website.  “As you know, we continue to face an […]

Teladoc Health Launches Amazon Collaboration

February 28, 2022
Virtual care provider Teladoc Heath has launched a collaboration with Amazon Alexa to provide care on Echo devices such the Echo, Echo Dot, and Echo Show. The partnership – announced...

Amazon Upgrades Echo Show Devices, Debuts Kids’ Version

May 12, 2021
Seattle-based Amazon has released its latest Echo Show devices: the new Echo Show 8, Echo Show 5 and the first Echo Show 5 Kids. In a press release on Wednesday...

Amazon Echo Challenges Zoom, Google Meet With Group Video, Audio Calls

December 18, 2020
Amazon Inc. made good on its previously announced plan to allow group audio- and video-conference calls on its Echo devices, The Verge reported. The feature will work on Echo, Echo...