Amazon is getting closer to unleashing its Alexa-powered home robot – but some employees working on it fear it will be an expensive flop.
The technological titan has over 800 employees who work at “Vesta” very secretly, a Roomba type device, which will be able to run around a house following the owner’s voice commands, according to Insider.
But development delays and “change strategies” are worrying some employees that they could end up being an expensive niche product that few people will want to buy, the press reported on Tuesday, citing six people directly involved in the project.
“People are very skeptical – we’re worried it could turn into another Fire Phone,” a source told Insider, referring to the failed smartphone on which Amazon recorded a $ 170 million discount. in 2014, the year it was launched.
Named after the Roman goddess of the hearth, Vesta is said to have worked for four years under the auspices of Lab126, the Amazon personal device unit that created the popular Kindle e-reader and Echo personal assistant speaker.
With a prototype that will be 10 to 13 inches wide, the gadget will likely be equipped with a screen, a microphone, several cameras and a small compartment to carry objects around, sources told Insider.
It can also come with a retractable pole mounted on the pole, which could help the owner find missing items such as wallets or keys, the report shows.
But it seems unclear how popular it might be that its price could ask for more than $ 1,000. Amazon expects low sales and may initially make Vesta a “limited product for invitations,” limiting the risk of accumulating unused inventory, according to Insider.
Amazon has also tried to cut costs by moving one of its Vesta suppliers to China from Mexico, but the change has led to production issues that have further pushed the launch of the gadget, media reported.
Asked about the Insider report, an Amazon spokesman said the company did not comment on “rumors and speculation”.