A pet-saving doorbell, Kindle Scribe, and AI: The latest Amazon gadgets

Amazon’s Kindle e-reader launched almost 20 years ago – and it is now getting an artificial intelligence (AI) upgrade, like many of the company’s other devices. 

At a presentation in New York on Tuesday, Amazon unveiled its next generation of Kindle, Ring and Echo devices, and other gadgets. They are all powered by AI and connected to Alexa+, an AI-infused personal assistant that made its debut in February.

Amazon unveiled four new Echo devices revamped with Alexa+ that serve up personalised insights, such as whether the user left the front door unlocked after midnight.

The Seattle-based company also announced a series of Alexa+-infused Fire TVs that offer more personalised searches, for example, finding a specific scene in a movie or getting commentary about last night's football game.

It is a “much-needed refresh to the lineup, as it was starting to look a bit dated. With all devices that dovetail nicely with the all-singing and dancing Alexa+ AI-powered service,” PP Foresight analyst Paolo Pescatore told Euronews Next.

“Alexa+ is clearly the glue that holds the stack together, driving engagement and retention across a plethora of devices and partners. This helps facilitate the relationship underpinned by ambient AI, providing users with greater control—a significant differentiator for Amazon,” he added. 

Here is all we know about the latest devices and upgrades. 

Kindle

One of the major updates to Kindle is a new version of the Kindle Scribe that the company touts as lighter and faster. It features an AI-powered notebook and search, and one includes a colour screen.

With the Kindle Scribe, readers can ask generative AI for a book summary to refresh their memory or ask questions about a character.

The new Scribes feature larger 11-inch (28 centimetres), glare-free E Ink screens—up from 10.2 inches (26 centimetres) previously. They now weigh 400 grams compared to 433 grams for last year’s version, the company said.

Executives noted that at 5.4 millimetres thick, these new versions are thinner than the iPhone Air, which measures 5.6 millimetres.

The new versions of Scribe will allow users to access documents stored on Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive, the company said.

Amazon said that later this year in the United States, Kindle Scribe will be available starting at $499.99 and Kindle Scribe Colorsoft will be offered starting at $629.99. The company did not say when it may roll out in Europe.

Doorbell

Amazon has been expanding its home security features since the company bought Wi-Fi-connected cameras and doorbell maker Ring in 2018. Amazon said Tuesday that it's infusing the device with more technology and upgraded cameras that will transform it into a doorbell attendant and community tool for pet owners, among other new uses.

Amazon said the Ring cameras with retinal vision now come with 2K resolution for sharper detail and 4K resolution video. Amazon's new AI facial recognition feature, called “Familiar Faces,” allows the user to register friends and family.

The smart doorbell, infused with Alexa+, will also be able to manage deliveries and provide instructions for delivery workers, among other tasks.

For pet owners, Amazon has a new feature that helps owners reunite lost dogs with their families. It works like this: A neighbour reports a lost dog in the Ring app, which would notify people nearby with a Ring camera. If the neighbours agree, their cameras would then use AI to look for a possible match with the lost dog.

Ring's “Search Party” for dogs will begin rolling out in November, followed by cats and other pets. And Alexa+ Greetings and Familiar Faces will be offered in December, the company said.

Ring Wired Doorbell Pro, priced at $249.99 and Wired Doorbell Plus, priced at $179.99, among other Ring cameras, are available for pre-order, Amazon said.

Connected home

Amazon, like Samsung, LG, and Google, aims to link home devices in a bid to create a connected home where devices interact with each other. However, the idea is still in its early stages, and far from seamless execution. 

In a demonstration video, a user asks Alexa what happened at home. The smart assistant tells them that the children walked the dog, a package was delivered, and raccoons rummaged through the bins, using images captured by Ring or Blink cameras.

Panos Panay, who heads Amazon’s devices and services teams, told the New York audience that Alexa+ and AI allow home technology to work "in the background when you don't”.

The goal is “products creating subtle shifts in all our behaviour, driven by AI, integrated into the hardware … and flowing natural[ly] through the products themselves,” Panay said. 

“Whether it’s a camera catching what you missed or your Fire TV updating you on a game, or your Kindle remembering exactly where you left off,” Panay added.