Amazon unveils AI-powered Kindle, Ring, and Echo devices starting at $99

Amazon unveiled a new generation of AI-powered devices including Kindle, Ring, and Echo products, all connected to its enhanced Alexa+ personal assistant that debuted in February. The announcement represents Amazon’s response to investor pressure to modernize its device lineup with artificial intelligence capabilities, as analysts noted the company’s offerings were starting to look “a bit dated” compared to competitors.

Key product updates: Amazon introduced significant improvements across its major device categories with AI integration at the center.

• Ring cameras now feature “Familiar Faces” facial recognition that allows users to register friends and family, plus “AI Search” functionality for finding specific video scenes like “delivery truck” or “person at front door.”
• Kindle Scribes received major upgrades with faster, lighter screens measuring just 5.5 millimeters thick (compared to 10.2mm for iPhone Air), weighing 334-400 grams, and new integration with Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive.
• Echo devices got four new models (Echo Show, Echo Max, Echo Studio, and Echo Dot) with speakers twice as loud as previous versions and enhanced personalization features.

Pricing and availability: The new devices span a range of price points with pre-orders starting immediately.

• Ring Video Doorbell Pro at $179.99 and Wired Ring Video Doorbell Plus at $249.99, shipping November-December.
• Kindle Scribe starting at $499.99 and Kindle Scribe Colorsoft at $629.99.
• New Echo devices starting at $99.99.

What they’re saying: Panos Panay, Amazon’s head of devices and services who joined the company in 2023 after a 19-year career at Microsoft, emphasized the comprehensive AI integration across the product line.

• “Artificial intelligence and Alexa+ are flowing into all our products,” Panay told journalists at the New York presentation.

Why this matters: Paolo Pescatore, a PP Foresight analyst, noted that Amazon faced investor pressure to refresh its device portfolio with AI capabilities.

• “The latest stack of products should not be overlooked as they may hold the key to how Amazon grabs headlines, especially as the next generation of devices are clearly designed to blend seamlessly into users’ lives,” he wrote in a Tuesday note.