At its annual hardware event, Amazon has introduced a new lineup of Echo devices built specifically for AI assistant Alexa+.
To showcase the capabilities of AI, Amazon is releasing four new echo devices with improved processing power and memory. Echo-to-Max, Echo-Studio, Echo-Show 8, and Echo-Show 11.
The key to the device is Alexa+ integration, allowing speakers to respond to more queries than their previous models, supporting natural language conversations, more complex questions, and more extra features soon.
This includes the Alexa+ store. The store allows users to explore services from brands such as Fandango, Grubhub, Lyft, Priceline, TaskRabbit, Thumbtack, Yahoo Sports, and more. The device can also manage new or existing subscriptions through Amazon’s own services, such as Amazon Music, Amazon Kids+, Alexa Emergency Assist and the Alexa Experience.
The new echo devices launching today run on Amazon’s custom-designed silicon chips AZ3 and AZ3 Pro. This includes AI accelerators designed to run AI Edge models.
AZ3 allows better conversation detection in Echodot, allowing people to talk to the device from anywhere in the room, filtering out background noise. The chip also improves wake word detection by more than 50%, Amazon claims.
The other three devices (Studio, Show 8, and 11) use the AZ3 Pro, which adds support for advanced language models and vision trans.
Additionally, AZ3 Pro-enabled devices include Ambient AI’s custom sensor platform, audio, ultrasound, Wi-Fi radar, accelerator meter, and Ominisense, Wi-Fi Channel Status Information (CSI) that uses a 13-megapixel camera on the new echo show device. With this feature, the device allows Alexa to act on events happening at home, such as providing reminders when certain people are walking around the room or warning a garage door that opens before going to bed at night.
The new $99.99 Echott Max adds almost three times the bass for a better sound. The two-way speaker includes a woofer for the deep bass and a custom tweeter for the high notes.
Meanwhile, the $219.99 Echo Studio has a new spherical design that can be 40% smaller than the original, says Amazon. Echo Studio also includes an upgraded lightling, a high-emission woofer, spatial audio, and Dolby Atmos for a visual understanding of what Alexa is doing and handling.
The company will feature an immersive sound system in the home, when consumers can connect up to five Echo Studios or Echoot Max devices with a compatible fire TV stick, and will be selling the products in the Alexa Home Theater Bundle.
Additionally, two smart displays, the Echo Show 8 ($179.99) and the Echo Show 11 ($219.99), both feature new designs, a 13-megapixel camera, larger screen area, new front-face stereo speakers, custom woofers and features equipped with Alexa+.
The AI Assistant runs a new smart home experience called Alexa+ Home. It combines event summary for the ring camera feed with issues, threads, smart home hubs that support Zigbee, and more.
As an Alexa device with a screen, the display is also suitable for access to entertainment, such as streaming audio and video, managing home organizations and family activities, and managing home shopping needs. The latter integrates with Amazon, Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh to organize your favorites and stream tracking.
Additionally, Amazon is working with Smart Ring Maker Oura to bring personalized health and wellness suggestions to Alexa devices. This will help you to add training reminders and nudges to head to bed and get the best sleep.
Other devices from Withings and Wyze will be supported in the future.
