Amazon has decided to remotely disable its Astro robots for businesses, just a year after its launch. A decision that caused surprise among customers who bought these devices.
Conceived as an autonomous surveillance and security tool for businesses, Astrobots will cease operations on September 25, 2024. And the reason given by the company is that they want to focus their efforts on the development of home robots and leave behind their foray into the commercial field.
The Astro robot launched in November 2023 with a price tag of $2,350 and a monthly subscription of $99 to unlock advanced security features, The device was aimed at companies and promised to change the way businesses manage the security of their devices.
Equipped with wheels and an enhanced version of Alexa, the robot could patrol, detect suspicious sounds and track people, all with the aim of offering autonomous and effective supervision.
According to Linda St. But Angela, Amazon’s vice president of hardware engineering, the company made up its mind to shut down the Astro for Business program and “focus efforts solely on developing the best consumer robotics products for the home.”
The executive explained in an internal circular that he is “increasingly convinced that the progress we are making in home robotics is where we should focus our resources.”
via e-mail, Amazon has assured its customers that it will fully refund the cost of the device to the original payment methods.
“We’ll also add a $300 credit to your Amazon account to help you find a replacement solution for your workplace, and we’ll also send you an automatic invitation to the Astro Day 1 Editions Program if you want to continue your journey with Astro in your home. “, the report states.
Additionally, customers who subscribed to Astro Secure, which offered features such as personalized patrols and support for Virtual Security Guard, will also see their benefits. The company said it will stop charging subscription fees from July 3 and that any unused prepaid fees will be refunded to customers.
Amazon has not disclosed how many Astro for Business robots have been sold since its launch, but the company seems optimistic about Astro’s future in the domestic market.
“We are fully committed to our vision of bringing the world’s robotic solutions to the home. In order to accelerate our progress and ongoing research to make Astro the best robot for the home, we have decided to end support for Astro for Business,” the company assured The Verge.
Lindo St. Angel also shared his excitement about the upcoming developments in home robotics and mentioned that “There’s a lot of work ahead of us, but I’m excited about this change and where it will take us on the next phase of our journey.”
One of the elements that will be key in this development is artificial intelligence. In 2023, internal company documents were leaked that talk about a new version of conversational generative artificial intelligence intended for these devices.
The information spoke of technology that “remembers what it has seen and understood” so that it is able to “participate in a dialogue of questions and answers about what it has seen.”in addition to detecting potential hazards in the house, such as the presence of broken glass on the floor.
