Big Technology Podcast Amazon Builds a Robot and Threatens Apple — With Wired's Lauren Goode
Sep 30, 2021
Lauren Goode, a Senior writer at Wired and host of the Gadget Lab podcast, dives into Amazon's latest innovations, including the Astro home robot and a Ring drone. She shares her mixed feelings about new technologies and their implications for privacy. The discussion turns to how Amazon and Apple, despite different product strategies, are on a collision course in the tech industry. Goode provides insights into the ethical dilemmas arising from smart devices and how these giants engage consumers in entertainment, gaming, and more.
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Amazon's Astro Robot
- Amazon's new robot, Astro, resembles a robot dog and integrates various Amazon technologies.
- It costs $1,000 and is only available by invitation, suggesting a limited rollout.
Astro's Uncertain Purpose
- Astro is a "robot without a cause," lacking a defined purpose despite four years of development.
- Its value proposition is weak, collecting extensive user data without clear user benefit.
The Ring Drone's Privacy Implications
- Ring's Always Home Cam, a $250 indoor drone, raises privacy concerns due to autonomous flight and recording.
- It lacks microphones, addressing some initial fears about FCC wiretapping violations.