Amazon’s secret war on Android: The company has a plan to cure Alexa’s addiction to Google’s operating system.
By Eugene Kim | March 6, 2024
Amazon’s Alexa division is making moves to cut costs and improve efficiency. One key part of their plan is to unify Alexa’s backend technology, which involves moving some devices off the Android-based operating system they have been using for years.
Internally named “Unified Alexa Device Software,” this project aims to reduce operational costs and address performance issues. The team expects significant cost savings and faster rollout of Alexa features once the project is completed.
This initiative is part of a larger revamp of the Alexa business following recent losses. Amazon has been streamlining operations across various business units, resulting in layoffs and project shutdowns.
The company’s stock has seen significant growth, reflecting CEO Andy Jassy’s success in cost-cutting measures. Amazon spokesperson emphasized that the changes in Alexa’s technology are part of a regular review process to enhance customer experience.
With the new Vega OS, Amazon plans to use a homegrown operating system for voice assistants, smart TVs, and wearable devices. This move is aimed at reducing reliance on Android-based Fire OS and improving overall performance.
The initiative also aims to eliminate feature-parity gaps between Amazon’s own devices and third-party voice assistants using Alexa. By unifying the backend technology, Amazon hopes to roll out features more quickly and improve customer experience.
While Amazon is reducing its reliance on Android, the move is not about ditching Google’s technology entirely but rather about resource efficiency and performance improvement.
Overall, Amazon’s efforts with Alexa reflect a strategic shift towards cost-cutting and operational efficiency, signaling a new direction for the company’s popular voice assistant technology.