In September 2021, Amazon introduced Astro, a device that combined Alexa with a computer vision system to make life easier for users. The robot was initially designed for home use and aimed at caring for dependent people or pets. However, about a year ago, Amazon expanded the availability of Astro to companies in the United States for functions such as monitoring warehouses or touring facilities.
Now, Amazon has announced that it will discontinue the Astro for Business version as of September 25. The company will reimburse the amount invested in these devices to these organizations while maintaining the domestic version of the device. The robots will cease to function once that date arrives, and all personal data will be deleted from the devices.
Amazon’s decision to discontinue the Astro for Business version is part of its commitment to focus on delivering consumer robotics solutions for home use. The company has hinted at working on new functionalities for the robot to enhance its capabilities and performance for domestic tasks.