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Trepidation, hurt morale precede last-of-its-kind Amazon hardware event: report

Sep 19, 2023 - arstechnica.com
Amazon's hardware team is reportedly facing low morale and uncertainty about the potential of upcoming products, according to a report by Reuters. The team is under pressure to produce cheaper hardware and is also dealing with the impending departure of department head David Limp. The report also revealed five devices that Amazon is currently developing, including a carbon monoxide detector with Alexa and a home projector. However, the company's focus on reducing costs has reportedly caused delays in the development of the projector.

Recent layoffs and changing strategies have further impacted morale within Amazon's hardware division. There are also concerns about financial losses and delays with certain products, such as the Amazon Astro. The future of the division is uncertain, with speculation that it could see further resource cuts or even be folded into the Amazon Web Services division. The report also mentioned that Amazon has a potential high-profile replacement for Limp in Panos Panay, who is leaving Microsoft, although this has not been confirmed by either company.

Key takeaways:

  • Amazon's hardware team is reportedly facing low morale and uncertainty about the potential of upcoming products, with concerns about cheaper hardware and the departure of department head David Limp.
  • Amazon is said to be developing several new devices, including a carbon monoxide detector with Alexa, a household energy consumption monitor with Alexa, and a home projector.
  • There are concerns about the viability of voice assistants, which hardly generate any revenue, and the shift towards generative AI like ChatGPT.
  • Recent layoffs and changing strategies have also impacted morale at Amazon's hardware division, and there is speculation that the hardware team could be folded into the Amazon Web Services division.
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