Later this year, Amazon is planning to release at least eight new devices that come with Alexa, its smart voice assistant, according to CNBC — including a microwave oven.
Beyond that microwave, the devices are said to include an amplifier, a receiver, a subwoofer, and some kind of gadget for your car. Some of these devices are expected to be revealed at an event later in September.
All of the devices will have connectivity to Alexa, but only some will have Alexa built-in for you to speak with. The others will be controllable by speaking to Alexa via other devices, including the Amazon Echo line of speakers, according to CNBC's sources,.
So far, the only Alexa-powered devices made by Amazon include the company's Echo smart speakers and smart screens, though it also recently purchased home security system maker Ring. The rest of the devices Amazon is said to be debuting, like the amplifier, receiver, and subwoofer, would bring Alexa closer to the sound system.
The microwave oven with Alexa compatibility would be the first Alexa-powered home appliance from Amazon, signalling the company's intent to feature more prominently more areas of a user's home. The same could be said for the reported Alexa-powered car gadget, where users also spend much of their time.
"We want customers to be able to use Alexa wherever they are," Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said in a statement in July. Indeed, expanding into other product categories would get Alexa in front of more people, in the areas where they already spend their time.
While these are a series of firsts for Amazon, there already exists several third-party Alexa-powered audio, home, and automobile gadgets. In audio, Sonos offers Alexa-powered amplifiers and subwoofers. And for home appliances, GE has an Alexa-powered smart microwave. In the car, Garmin has an Alexa-compatible dash cam.
Amazon has made a series of company acquisitions and partnerships that reflect the company's intent to become more ubiquitous in the home. Amazon acquired the smart doorbell company Ring earlier this year, and the company has partnered with home-builder company Lennar in incorporating Amazon's Echo devices into new houses.
Earlier ths year, Amazon was said to be working on an a home robot with Alexa built-in, according to Bloomberg. It was described as a "sort of mobile Alexa."
Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
