Amazon Alexa running at a loss, close to failure...

[blackhole]

The end of "voice assistants"? I think so, in that this news seems to herald their demise in their current form at least.

All vendors seem to have failed to monetise "the spy in your home", due to intense competition and the "free [or to be correct: cheap] as in you're the product" business model. I seriously doubt we've seen the last of this tech though, but I can't see it ever becoming a business success as a standalone device.

Like the tablet in the early 00's, it may have come too soon - in another decade when there is more accompanying/reliant tech, then these devices could make a comeback.

To compare with smartphones - the real salability of those, is all based on how reliant people have become on them and not the novelty value.

And like an MP3 player or digital camera, this "home hub" tech, is really the kind of tech that could be integrated into a smartphone or a TV, rather than as a separate device.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022...ion-this-year/

[bsd-keith]

Could never understand people having these bugging devices in their homes, you haven't a clue who is listening in to your home conversations, so not surprised that they have failed miserably, as most people don't want people listening to their daily lives, if they've got any sense.

[frcc]

Its the same old story, in many cases in this area of technology......
"More Convenience generally equals less security" and then of course you have the novelty factor.
Sometimes I watch people in check-out lines at any large retail outlet. I am continuously surprised at
the number of electronic devices they carry and attempt to use, sometime at once.
One big EMP pulse and most will be totally lost, and some literally without GXXXXX Maps.
And only one can imagine what infomation a skilled individual might dig up with some sort of scanning device. Makes you want to wear a tin-foil hat!