Key Highlights:
- Amazon unveiled Astro, a home assistant robot that brings AI to households.
- Amazon stated that the Astro will be available in a limited quantity but did not specify how many.
- Amazon also revealed a picture frame-like screen that can be mounted on a wall and has Amazon’s Alexa speech assistant.
Astro: The new home assistant
Amazon’s new Astro robot can hear, see, and follow you about the house, check whether you left the stove on while you’re gone, and send an alarm if someone it doesn’t recognize enters the house.
Astro avoids barriers and dogs by using cameras, sensors, and artificial intelligence, and Amazon claims it will only become better over time. It can transport snacks or a can of soda across the home.
The $1,000 robot, which will be delivered to consumers later this year, was one of a flurry of devices announced by Amazon on 28th Sept. as part of its annual Christmas event.
Astro, on the other hand, stole the show. During the virtual event, Amazon executive David Limp invited the 17-inch tall robot on stage and then asked it to beatbox. Its round digital eyes shut and expand as it does tasks, lending it a human-like quality.
A unique persona
“Customers don’t just want Alexa on wheels,” said Limp, Amazon’s devices, and services chief. “We’ve embodied it with a unique persona that’s all its own.”
Astro’s technique of checking in on loved ones for family members who are caring for others was lauded by Amazon.
In a blog post about Astro, the company stated, “When used with Alexa Together, a new service designed to help family members feel more comfortable and confident living independently, family members can set up reminders and receive alerts to give caregivers the reassurance that their loved ones are active and going about their day.”
Astro may also be linked to Ring and used to patrol the house, detect suspicious behavior, and capture video.
Amazon stated that the Astro will be available in a limited quantity but did not specify how many.
The initial price of $1,000 is exclusively available via invitation through the company’s Day 1 Edition program. The robot will eventually cost $1,499.
Other revelations
Aside from the robot, Amazon also revealed a picture frame-like screen that can be mounted on a wall and has Amazon’s Alexa speech assistant. The firm envisions it going into the kitchen, where users will be able to browse recipes, check their calendar, or watch a show while cooking.
The Seattle-based firm said that its Echo listening devices would be installed in Disney hotel rooms next year, allowing visitors to request towels from room service or inquire for the quickest route to a theme park.
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