Amazon’s secret war on Android: The company has a plan to cure Alexa’s addiction to Google’s operating system.
By Eugene Kim | 2024-03-06T10:00:02Z
Amazon’s Alexa division is making moves to cut costs and improve efficiency. One of their strategies involves unifying Alexa’s backend technology, which will result in some devices moving away from the Android-based operating system. This initiative, known as “Unified Alexa Device Software,” aims to reduce operational costs and address performance issues.
The project is expected to save almost 50% of overhead costs once completed, leading to a faster rollout of Alexa features and improved customer experience. This move is part of a larger revamp of the Alexa business following significant losses.
Amazon has been streamlining operations across all business units, resulting in layoffs and project shutdowns. The efficiency drive has been well-received by Wall Street, with CEO Andy Jassy showcasing his cost-cutting abilities.
In an email to Business Insider, an Amazon spokesperson clarified that the changes in Alexa’s technology are part of a regular review process aimed at continuously improving the platform for customers.
With the introduction of the new homegrown operating system named Vega, Amazon plans to use it for voice assistants, smart TVs, and wearable devices. This shift away from the Android-based Fire OS is not about ditching Google’s technology but rather about resource efficiency and performance improvement.
While Amazon is reducing its reliance on Android, the move does not mean they are completely moving away from the platform. Some devices will continue to use Android-based systems, but the goal is to be more efficient with resources and enhance performance.
Overall, Amazon’s efforts to unify Alexa’s software stack and improve efficiency are part of a broader strategy to enhance customer experience and streamline operations.