Amazon’s Kindle E-Reader was released almost 20 years ago. Now, like many of the other devices in the company, they are getting an AI upgrade.
During a New York presentation on Tuesday, Amazon unveiled the next-generation Kindle, Ring, Echo devices and other gadgets. They are all AI-powered and connected to Alexa+, an AI-inspired personal assistant that debuted in February.
Amazon has announced four new Echo devices revamped with Alexa+, offering personalized insights, including whether users have been unlocked after midnight.
The Seattle-based company has also announced a series of fire televisions with Alexa+ fuel, offering more personalized searches. For example, you might find a specific scene from a movie or explain last night’s soccer match.
PP Foresight analyst Paolo Pescatore told PP Foresight analyst, “a much-needed refresh for the lineup.”
“Alexa+ is clearly an adhesive that holds the stack together, encouraging engagement and retention across many devices and partners. This encourages the relationships underpinned by Amvient AI and provides greater control for the users.
Here’s everything you know about the latest devices and upgrades:
Kindle
One of the major updates for Kindle is the new version of the Kindle Scribe, where the company promotes lighter and faster. It features AI-powered notebooks and searches, and includes a color screen.
With Kindle Scribe, readers can ask Generative AI for a summary of the book, refresh their memories and ask questions about their characters.
The new scribe features a larger 11 inch (28 cm), glare-free E-ink screen, previously up from 10.2 inches (26 cm). According to the company, last year’s version weighs 400 grams compared to 433 grams.
Executives pointed out that at 5.4 mm thick, these newer versions are thinner than the 5.6 mm iPhone Air.
The new version of Scribe allows users to access documents stored in Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive.
Amazon said later this year in the US, the Kindle Scribe will be available from $499.99, while the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft will start from $629.99. The company had not said when it would roll out in Europe.
Doorbell
Since purchasing Wi-Fi-Fonnected Cameras and Doorbell Maker Ring in 2018, Amazon has expanded its home security features. Amazon said Tuesday it will inject technology and upgrade cameras into its devices and convert them into doorbell attendants and community tools for pet owners.
According to Amazon, the retinal vision ring camera comes with 2K resolution for sharper details and 4K resolution video. Amazon’s new AI facial recognition feature, known as “familiar faces,” allows users to register friends and family.
Smart doorbells injected with Alexa+ can manage delivery and provide instructions to delivery workers among other tasks.
For pet owners, Amazon has a new feature that will help owners reunite their lost dogs with their family. It works like this. Neighbors report lost dogs on the ring app. This will notify people nearby with a ring camera. If the neighbor agrees, the camera will use AI to search for matches against the lost dog.
The Ring’s “Search Party” dogs unfold in November, followed by cats and other pets. The company said Alexa+ greetings and familiar faces will be offered in December.
Amazon said the Ring Wired Doorbell Pro is available for pre-order at $249.99 and the Wired Doorbell Plus priced at $179.99.
Connected Home
Amazon aims to link home devices, like Samsung, LG, and Google, to create connected homes where devices interact with each other. However, this idea is still in its early stages and far from seamless execution.
In the demo video, users ask Alexa what happened at home. A smart assistant tells the kids that they walk their dogs, packages have been delivered, images taken with a ring or blink camera to let them know that raccoons have been heard through the bin and the raccoon has been delivered.
Panos Panay, who leads Amazon’s device and service team, told New York viewers that Alexa+ and AI are allowing home technology to work “in the background.”
The goal is “products that create subtle changes in all behaviors driven by hardware-integrated AI, and generate nature through the product itself.”
“It’s a camera that catches what you missed, whether your Fire TV is updating you with the game, or a Kindle that remembers exactly where you left off,” Panay added.