Amazon Unveils New AI-Powered Device Lineup, Enhancing Smart Home Experience

Amazon refreshes device lineup for Alexa+ AI, home security

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Amazon (AMZN.O), opens new tab on Tuesday unveiled a refreshed lineup of devices optimized for home security and its new artificial intelligence-infused Alexa+ voice assistant. At an event in New York, Amazon showed off Echo speakers, Fire TV streaming devices, a new Kindle reader and improved Ring and Blink cameras. Amazon is trying to drive interest in the new Alexa, which it spent years updating with AI for better personalization and a more conversational tone. The Seattle firm said its new Echos, including smaller Dots and Show devices with screens that range from $99 to $219, will be enabled to work with Alexa+ and feature new silicon chips for faster processing. Amazon also rolled out improved cameras for its Ring devices for better home security, including facial recognition to help ward off unwanted visitors. Reporting by Greg Bensinger Editing by Marguerita Choy Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab * Suggested Topics: * Technology Greg Bensinger Thomson Reuters Greg Bensinger joined Reuters as a technology correspondent in 2022 focusing on the world's largest technology companies. He was previously a member of The New York Times editorial board and a technology beat reporter for The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. He also worked for Bloomberg News writing about the auto and telecommunications industries. He studied English literature at The University of Virginia and graduate journalism at Columbia University. Greg lives in San Francisco with his wife and two children. Arriana McLymore Thomson Reuters Arriana McLymore is a New York-based reporter covering e-commerce, online marketplaces, alternative revenue streams for retailers and in-store innovation. She previously reported on telecoms and the business of law.

Amazon's unveils new generation of devices all powered by AI

NEW YORK (AP) -- Online juggernaut Amazon Inc. unveiled its next generation of Kindle, Ring and Echo devices, among other gadgets, that are all powered by artificial intelligence and connected to Alexa+, its AI-infused personal assistant, which made its debut in February. The lineup, announced at a presentation and showcase in New York, includes new cameras for its Ring video monitoring device with a new AI facial recognition feature that allows users to register friends and family and notify them who is at the front door. Amazon unveiled four new Echo devices revamped with Alexa+ that serve up personalized insights like whether the user left the front door unlocked after midnight. The Seattle-based company also announced a series of Alexa+-infused Fire TVs that allow for more personalized searches like finding a specific scene in a movie or getting commentary about last night's football game. The presentation Tuesday was the first big product event for Panos Panay, who joined Amazon in 2023 to head up the company's devices and services teams after a 19-year career at Microsoft where he served as chief product officer. Panay told the audience of several hundred journalists and bloggers that Alexa+ and artificial intelligence are allowing technology to work "in the background when you don't." "Products creating subtle shifts in all our behavior, driven by AI, integrated into the hardware," Panay said. "And flowing natural through the products themselves. 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."

Amazon's new Alexa and AI features will play doorman, recap Kindle books, and find lost dogs

Amazon unveiled an updated slate of Echo, Kindle, Ring, Fire TV and Blink devices at an event Tuesday morning in New York City -- reviving its past tradition of unleashing a dizzying array of new hardware and services in advance of the holiday shopping season. If there was a common thread, beyond Amazon devices chief Panos Panay's well-known obsession with hardware design, it was artificial intelligence. The company showed AI upgrades across the lineup, many of them integrating its Alexa+ voice assistant -- its latest bid to close the gap with ChatGPT and other AI chatbots. Echo and Alexa+: Amazon introduced four new and upgraded Echo models -- Echo Dot Max, Echo Studio, Echo Show 8, and Echo Show 11 -- designed to work with Alexa+, the revamped voice assistant, which has been rolling out through an early access program this year. The company said the new devices use custom AI silicon and a new sensor platform called Omnisense to enable more natural conversations, proactive reminders, personalized wellness suggestions, and responses that are more aware of the user's context. Amazon also announced a new Alexa+ Store -- a marketplace for third-party services and add-ons designed to expand its capabilities. Kindle: A new "Story So Far" feature will give readers spoiler-free recaps, while "Ask this Book" lets them highlight passages and get AI-generated context about characters or scenes. Amazon's redesigned Kindle Scribe e-ink tablet can search handwritten notes and generate summaries. Amazon previewed a feature to send documents to Alexa+ for follow-up conversations. It also comes in a new color version, the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft. Amazon said the next generation of Kindle Scribe will roll out later this year in the U.S., starting at $499.99, with the new color version, Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, starting at $629.99. A lower-priced black-and-white model without a front light is slated for early next year at $429.99. Ring: An AI-powered "Search Party" feature is designed to help reunite lost dogs with their families. When a neighbor reports a missing pet in the Ring app, people with nearby outdoor Ring cameras can participate in the search, with AI flagging possible matches and notifying them if the dog appears. Amazon says Ring users will remain in control of their privacy, with the choice to ignore alerts or share information with neighbors. Separately, a new "Familiar Faces" feature reduces unnecessary alerts by recognizing people you know. According to Amazon, it's designed to cut down on routine notifications while adding context to events captured in the Ring app A new "Alexa+ Greetings" feature on Ring cameras turns Alexa into a virtual doorman, handling deliveries, greeting visitors, or turning away solicitors. Fire TV: Amazon also introduced new and updated Fire TV Sticks and televisions. The company says the devices are faster and more efficient, with slimmer designs and improved picture quality, and run on a new operating system called Vega. Alexa+ is built into the new models, enabling more conversational searches, personalized recommendations, and features such as finding specific scenes or surfacing live sports stats Blink: New 2K+ cameras add AI-powered person and vehicle detection, along with stitched panoramic views through a new "Blink Arc" system.

Amazon adds AI muscle to connected home lineup

New York (AFP) - Amazon on Tuesday unveiled the latest generation of connected products, featuring enhanced artificial intelligence capabilities designed to make interactions with AI more frequent and natural. Nearly 20 years after the launch of the Kindle e-reader, the Seattle-based online retail giant now offers a family of connected devices, from the Echo smart speaker to the Ring doorbell and Fire TV. Amazon now aims to multiply their capabilities through AI, but wants to use it "without getting in the way," said Panos Panay, head of devices and services, during a New York presentation. The company had already made a major move into AI enhancements with the February launch of Alexa+, an upgraded version of the Alexa voice assistant. Amazon's ambition, like that of competitors Google, LG and Samsung, is to become the connected home nerve center. But the sector has struggled to deliver on the promise of a fully connected home, with consumers forced to choose from competing ecosystems or left struggling with technology that fails to deliver on expectations. "Alexa, what happened around the house today?" a user asks in a demonstration video. The smart assistant explains that the children walked the dog, a package was delivered and raccoons rummaged through the trash -- using images captured by Ring or Blink cameras. Has your dog run away? After the escape is reported on the Ring app, other Amazon doorbells in the neighborhood can detect if the animal passes by and alert you. With the Kindle Scribe, readers can ask generative AI for a book summary to refresh their memory or ask questions about a character. As for connected television, viewers can verbally request to see a scene from their favorite movie or receive a summary of a football game they missed. Amazon believes in "ambient" AI, in Panay's words, which "lives naturally in the products themselves." The generative AI revolution is playing out on both software and physical interfaces, with major tech players seeking to determine which product will prevail -- smartphone, smart glasses, earbuds or speakers. OpenAI is working on a new kind of device, while Meta is betting on glasses and Apple on earbuds.

Amazon unveils new generation of AI-powered Kindle and other devices

NEW YORK -- Online juggernaut Amazon Inc. unveiled its next generation of Kindle, Ring and Echo devices, among other gadgets, that are all powered by artificial intelligence and connected to Alexa+, its AI-infused personal assistant, which made its debut in February. The lineup, announced at a presentation and showcase in New York, includes new cameras for its Ring video monitoring device with a new AI facial recognition feature that allows users to register friends and family and notify them who is at the front door. Amazon unveiled four new Echo devices revamped with Alexa+ that serve up personalized insights like 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 personalized searches like finding a specific scene in a movie or getting commentary about last night's football game. The presentation Tuesday was the first big product event for Panos Panay, who joined Amazon in 2023 to head up the company's devices and services teams after a 19-year career at Microsoft where he served as chief product officer. Panay told the audience of several hundred journalists and bloggers that Alexa+ and artificial intelligence are allowing technology to work "in the background when you don't." "Products creating subtle shifts in all our behavior, driven by AI, integrated into the hardware," Panay said. "And flowing natural through the products themselves. 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." The new lineup comes as Amazon has faced pressure from investors to cater to the new AI era. PP Foresight analyst Paolo Pescatore wrote in a note Tuesday that the offerings were "a much needed refresh to the lineup, as it was starting to look a bit dated." "Attention to detail may not grab headlines, but it should not be overlooked, especially how the products look and feel, " he wrote."The latest generation of devices is designed to blend into users' lives without them realizing they exist ... Alexa+ is clearly the glue that holds the stack together..." Here are some highlights: 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 the device 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 neighbor reports a lost dog in the Ring app, which would notify people nearby with a Ring camera The cameras would then use AI to look for a possible match with the lost dog Ring Wired Doorbell Pro, priced at $249.99 and wired doorbell plus, priced at $179.99, among other Ring cameras, will be available for pre-order on Tuesday, Amazon said. 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. Amazon unveiled new versions of the Kindle Scribe that the company touts as lighter and faster and features an AI-powered notebook search. One of them includes a color screen. The new Scribes feature larger 11-inch, glare-free E Ink screens -- up from 10.2 inches previously. They now weigh 400 grams compared to 433 grams for last year's version, the company said. Executives noted that at 5.4 millimeters thick, these new versions are thinner than the iPhone Air, which measure 5.6 millimeters. The new versions of Scribes will allow users to access documents stored on Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive, the company said. Amazon said that later this year in the U.S., Kindle Scribe will be available starting at $499.99 and Kindle Scribe Colorsoft will be offered starting at $629.99. Amazon unveiled four new Echo loud speaker devices -- the Echo Dot Max, Echo Studio, Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11 -- that are specifically for Alexa+ and allow for more personalized experiences. The new offering, which starts at $99.99, comes as Amazon reports that those customers with early Alexa+ are engaging with the personal assistant twice as much and relying on it to do tasks like booking reservations and controlling smart home devices. The new features recognize users and churns out personalized insights such as an analysis of how they slept last night. The company said that all four new Echo devices are available for pre-order starting Tuesday.

Amazon's unveils new generation of devices all powered by AI

NEW YORK (AP) -- Online juggernaut Amazon Inc. unveiled its next generation of Kindle, Ring and Echo devices, among other gadgets, that are all powered by artificial intelligence and connected to Alexa+, its AI-infused personal assistant, which made its debut in February. The lineup, announced at a presentation and showcase in New York, includes new cameras for its Ring video monitoring device with a new AI facial recognition feature that allows users to register friends and family and notify them who is at the front door. Amazon unveiled four new Echo devices revamped with Alexa+ that serve up personalized insights like whether the user left the front door unlocked after midnight. The Seattle-based company also announced a series of Alexa+-infused Fire TVs that allow for more personalized searches like finding a specific scene in a movie or getting commentary about last night's football game. The presentation Tuesday was the first big product event for Panos Panay, who joined Amazon in 2023 to head up the company's devices and services teams after a 19-year career at Microsoft where he served as chief product officer. Panay told the audience of several hundred journalists and bloggers that Alexa+ and artificial intelligence are allowing technology to work "in the background when you don't." "Products creating subtle shifts in all our behavior, driven by AI, integrated into the hardware," Panay said. "And flowing natural through the products themselves. 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."

Amazon Unveils New Generation of AI-Powered Kindle and Other Devices

NEW YORK (AP) -- Online juggernaut Amazon Inc. unveiled its next generation of Kindle, Ring and Echo devices, among other gadgets, that are all powered by artificial intelligence and connected to Alexa+, its AI-infused personal assistant, which made its debut in February. The lineup, announced at a presentation and showcase in New York, includes new cameras for its Ring video monitoring device with a new AI facial recognition feature that allows users to register friends and family and notify them who is at the front door. Amazon unveiled four new Echo devices revamped with Alexa+ that serve up personalized insights like 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 personalized searches like finding a specific scene in a movie or getting commentary about last night's football game. The presentation Tuesday was the first big product event for Panos Panay, who joined Amazon in 2023 to head up the company's devices and services teams after a 19-year career at Microsoft where he served as chief product officer. Panay told the audience of several hundred journalists and bloggers that Alexa+ and artificial intelligence are allowing technology to work "in the background when you don't." "Products creating subtle shifts in all our behavior, driven by AI, integrated into the hardware," Panay said. "And flowing natural through the products themselves. 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." The new lineup comes as Amazon has faced pressure from investors to cater to the new AI era. PP Foresight analyst Paolo Pescatore wrote in a note Tuesday that the offerings were "a much needed refresh to the lineup, as it was starting to look a bit dated." "Attention to detail may not grab headlines, but it should not be overlooked, especially how the products look and feel, " he wrote."The latest generation of devices is designed to blend into users' lives without them realizing they exist ... Alexa+ is clearly the glue that holds the stack together..." Here are some highlights: A more powerful 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 the device 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 neighbor reports a lost dog in the Ring app, which would notify people nearby with a Ring camera The cameras would then use AI to look for a possible match with the lost dog Ring Wired Doorbell Pro, priced at $249.99 and wired doorbell plus, priced at $179.99, among other Ring cameras, will be available for pre-order on Tuesday, Amazon said. 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. An updated lineup of Kindle Scribes: Amazon unveiled new versions of the Kindle Scribe that the company touts as lighter and faster and features an AI-powered notebook search. One of them includes a color screen. The new Scribes feature larger 11-inch, glare-free E Ink screens -- up from 10.2 inches previously. They now weigh 400 grams compared to 433 grams for last year's version, the company said. Executives noted that at 5.4 millimeters thick, these new versions are thinner than the iPhone Air, which measure 5.6 millimeters. The new versions of Scribes will allow users to access documents stored on Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive, the company said. Amazon said that later this year in the U.S., Kindle Scribe will be available starting at $499.99 and Kindle Scribe Colorsoft will be offered starting at $629.99. New Alexa +Empowered Echo Devices: Amazon unveiled four new Echo loud speaker devices -- the Echo Dot Max, Echo Studio, Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11 -- that are specifically for Alexa+ and allow for more personalized experiences. The new offering, which starts at $99.99, comes as Amazon reports that those customers with early Alexa+ are engaging with the personal assistant twice as much and relying on it to do tasks like booking reservations and controlling smart home devices. The new features recognize users and churns out personalized insights such as an analysis of how they slept last night. The company said that all four new Echo devices are available for pre-order starting Tuesday.

Amazon unveils new generation of devices all powered by AI - The Economic Times

The lineup, announced at a presentation and showcase in New York, includes new cameras for its Ring video monitoring device with a new AI facial recognition feature that allows users to register friends and family and notify them who is at the front door.Online juggernaut Amazon unveiled its next generation of Kindle, Ring and Echo devices, among other gadgets, that are all powered by artificial intelligence and connected to Alexa+, its AI-infused personal assistant, which made its debut in February. The lineup, announced at a presentation and showcase in New York, includes new cameras for its Ring video monitoring device with a new AI facial recognition feature that allows users to register friends and family and notify them who is at the front door. Amazon unveiled four new Echo devices revamped with Alexa+ that serve up personalized insights like whether the user left the front door unlocked after midnight. The Seattle-based company also announced a series of Alexa+-infused Fire TVs that allow for more personalized searches like finding a specific scene in a movie or getting commentary about last night's football game. The presentation Tuesday was the first big product event for Panos Panay, who joined Amazon in 2023 to head up the company's devices and services teams after a 19-year career at Microsoft where he served as chief product officer. Panay told the audience of several hundred journalists and bloggers that Alexa+ and artificial intelligence are allowing technology to work "in the background when you don't." "Products creating subtle shifts in all our behavior, driven by AI, integrated into the hardware," Panay said. "And flowing natural through the products themselves. 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."

Amazon unveils new AI-powered Ring, Echo, Kindle devices for Alexa+

Amazon on Tuesday unveiled a refreshed lineup of devices optimized for home security and its new artificial intelligence-infused Alexa+ voice assistant. At an event in New York, Amazon showed off Echo speakers, Fire TV streaming devices, a new Kindle reader and improved Ring and Blink cameras. Amazon is trying to drive interest in the new Alexa, which it spent years updating with AI for better personalization and a more conversational tone. The Seattle firm said its new Echos, including smaller Dots and Show devices with screens that range from $99 to $219, will be enabled to work with Alexa+ and feature new silicon chips for faster processing. Amazon also rolled out improved cameras for its Ring devices for better home security, including facial recognition to help ward off unwanted visitors.

Amazon unveils new generation of AI-powered Kindle and other devices

Online juggernaut Amazon Inc. unveiled its next generation of Kindle, Ring and Echo devices, among other gadgets, that are all powered by artificial intelligence and connected to Alexa+, its AI-infused personal assistant, which made its debut in February. The lineup, announced at a presentation and showcase in New York, includes new cameras for its Ring video monitoring device with a new AI facial recognition feature that allows users to register friends and family and notify them who is at the front door. Amazon unveiled four new Echo devices revamped with Alexa+ that serve up personalized insights like 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 personalized searches like finding a specific scene in a movie or getting commentary about last night's football game. The presentation Tuesday was the first big product event for Panos Panay, who joined Amazon in 2023 to head up the company's devices and services teams after a 19-year career at Microsoft where he served as chief product officer. Panay told the audience of several hundred journalists and bloggers that Alexa+ and artificial intelligence are allowing technology to work "in the background when you don't." "Products creating subtle shifts in all our behavior, driven by AI, integrated into the hardware," Panay said. "And flowing natural through the products themselves. 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." The new lineup comes as Amazon has faced pressure from investors to cater to the new AI era. PP Foresight analyst Paolo Pescatore wrote in a note Tuesday that the offerings were "a much needed refresh to the lineup, as it was starting to look a bit dated." "Attention to detail may not grab headlines, but it should not be overlooked, especially how the products look and feel, " he wrote."The latest generation of devices is designed to blend into users' lives without them realizing they exist ... Alexa+ is clearly the glue that holds the stack together..." 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 the device 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 neighbor reports a lost dog in the Ring app, which would notify people nearby with a Ring camera The cameras would then use AI to look for a possible match with the lost dog Ring Wired Doorbell Pro, priced at $249.99 and wired doorbell plus, priced at $179.99, among other Ring cameras, will be available for pre-order on Tuesday, Amazon said. 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. An updated lineup of Kindle Scribes: Amazon unveiled new versions of the Kindle Scribe that the company touts as lighter and faster and features an AI-powered notebook search. One of them includes a color screen. The new Scribes feature larger 11-inch, glare-free E Ink screens -- up from 10.2 inches previously. They now weigh 400 grams compared to 433 grams for last year's version, the company said. Executives noted that at 5.4 millimeters thick, these new versions are thinner than the iPhone Air, which measure 5.6 millimeters. The new versions of Scribes will allow users to access documents stored on Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive, the company said. Amazon said that later this year in the U.S., Kindle Scribe will be available starting at $499.99 and Kindle Scribe Colorsoft will be offered starting at $629.99. New Alexa +Empowered Echo Devices: Amazon unveiled four new Echo loud speaker devices -- the Echo Dot Max, Echo Studio, Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11 -- that are specifically for Alexa+ and allow for more personalized experiences. The new offering, which starts at $99.99, comes as Amazon reports that those customers with early Alexa+ are engaging with the personal assistant twice as much and relying on it to do tasks like booking reservations and controlling smart home devices. The new features recognize users and churns out personalized insights such as an analysis of how they slept last night. The company said that all four new Echo devices are available for pre-order starting Tuesday.

Amazon reveals range of new Kindle, Ring and Echo devices powered by AI | BreakingNews

Online juggernaut Amazon has unveiled its next generation of Kindle, Ring and Echo devices, among other gadgets, that are all powered by artificial intelligence and connected to Alexa+, its AI-infused personal assistant, which made its debut in February. The line-up, announced at a presentation and showcase in New York on Tuesday, includes new cameras for its Ring video monitoring device with a new AI facial recognition feature that allows users to register friends and family and notify them who is at the front door. Amazon unveiled four new Echo devices revamped with Alexa+ that serve up personalised insights like whether the user left the front door unlocked after midnight. The Seattle-based company also announced a series of Alexa+ infused Fire TVs that allow for more personalised searches like finding a specific scene in a movie or getting commentary about the previous day's football game. The presentation was the first big product event for Panos Panay, who joined Amazon in 2023 to head up the company's devices and services teams after a 19-year career at Microsoft where he served as chief product officer. Mr Panay told the audience of several hundred journalists and bloggers that Alexa+ and artificial intelligence are allowing technology to work "in the background when you don't". "Products creating subtle shifts in all our behaviour, driven by AI, integrated into the hardware," Mr Panay said. "And flowing natural through the products themselves. "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."

Amazon refreshes device lineup for Alexa+ AI, home security

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) -Amazon on Tuesday unveiled a refreshed lineup of devices optimized for home security and its new artificial intelligence-infused Alexa+ voice assistant. At an event in New York, Amazon showed off Echo speakers, Fire TV streaming devices, a new Kindle reader and improved Ring and Blink cameras. Amazon is trying to drive interest in the new Alexa, which it spent years updating with AI for better personalization and a more conversational tone. The Seattle firm said its new Echos, including smaller Dots and Show devices with screens that range from $99 to $219, will be enabled to work with Alexa+ and feature new silicon chips for faster processing. Amazon also rolled out improved cameras for its Ring devices for better home security, including facial recognition to help ward off unwanted visitors. (Reporting by Greg BensingerEditing by Marguerita Choy) By Greg Bensinger and Arriana McLymore