Amazon is set to lay off employees in its Alexa division, affecting several hundred individuals across the US, Canada, and India. Daniel Bausch, Amazon's vice president of Alexa and Fire TV, stated that the company is realigning its efforts to better match business priorities, emphasizing generative AI.
(Photo : ROBERT LEVER/AFP via Getty Images)
Amazon highlights how its Alexa digital assistant can be integrated into various smart home devices at its exhibit at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, January 11, 2019.
Laying Off Amazon Employees
The recent decision by Amazon to lay off employees in its Alexa division reflects a strategic shift aimed at aligning efforts with the company's business priorities. Engadget reported that the move was communicated through an internal email from Daniel Bausch, Amazon's vice president of Alexa and Fire TV.
Bausch highlighted the company's focus on generative AI and maximizing resources to meet customer needs effectively. While the decision involves discontinuing some initiatives, Amazon is prioritizing its investments and efforts in areas aligned with the evolving landscape of AI and customer expectations.
An Amazon spokesperson confirmed the layoffs, emphasizing the company's optimism about the future of Alexa. Efforts are being made to assist affected employees in finding alternative roles within the company. Despite the challenging decision, Amazon remains committed to innovating and investing in Alexa to fulfill its broader vision.
Over the past year, Amazon has initiated significant workforce reductions, surpassing 27,000 layoffs across various divisions-a departure from its historical trend. In the recent round of cutbacks, the gaming division saw 180 job eliminations, resulting in the closure of Crown, a Twitch channel backed by the company.
In a preceding instance earlier this month, an undisclosed number of employees were let go from the music streaming unit, adding to the over 100 job cuts made in previous instances within Amazon's gaming divisions.
Advancing Field of Generative AI
Facing the need to stay competitive in the swiftly evolving realm of generative AI, the company is feeling the heat. OpenAI's ChatGPT has been making waves with its sophisticated natural language interactions, and the San Francisco-based company even introduced a mobile feature enabling users to engage with ChatGPT through voice and audio.
In September, GeekWire reported that Amazon revealed plans to enhance Alexa, aligning it more closely with ChatGPT. The upcoming upgrades will involve powering Alexa with an extensive language model, the same foundational technology that underlies modern chatbots like ChatGPT.
David Limp, Amazon's SVP of Devices & Services, highlighted the optimization of the latest model for voice during the company's event that month. The focus is on providing users with real-time information, efficient control of their smart homes, and an enhanced home entertainment experience.
Also Read: Amazon to Lay Off 17,000+ Workers, Higher than Initially Planned
The upcoming enhancements to Alexa will eliminate the need to repeatedly say "Alexa" for each command.
Users will gain the ability to issue intricate requests, such as instructing the assistant to ready the house for bedtime every weeknight at 9 PM-dimming the lights, locking the doors, and adjusting the temperature all in a single command.
Additionally, Alexa's conversational capabilities will be extended, allowing it to sustain longer interactions and retain the context of the ongoing discussion.
Related Article: Amazon's Robotic Alexa Now More Human-Like After Generative AI Update
