Amazon’s Panos Panay speaks on new Fire phone rumors
▼ Summary
– Amazon’s devices chief Panos Panay said the company is “not necessarily” planning to release a smartphone but did not outright deny it.
– Reports indicate Amazon is developing an Alexa-enabled AI phone codenamed “Transformer,” over a decade after its failed Fire Phone.
– When asked directly about a new smartphone, Panay replied, “It’s just not the goal” and acknowledged rumors.
– Panay avoided a definitive “no” to the question of whether Amazon will pursue a phone.
Amazon’s devices chief, Panos Panay, has addressed swirling speculation about a potential return to the smartphone market, offering a response that is neither a confirmation nor a flat-out denial. When pressed by the Financial Times on whether the tech giant is developing a new handset, Panay replied, “It’s just not the goal.” He acknowledged the buzz, adding, “I know there’s a lot of rumors out there.”
The comments come on the heels of reports that Amazon is quietly working on an AI-powered smartphone internally codenamed “Transformer,” which would heavily integrate the company’s Alexa voice assistant. This would mark a dramatic reentry into the mobile space more than a decade after the original Fire Phone was pulled from shelves following poor sales.
Panay’s phrasing left room for interpretation. “I think your black and white question is, are you going after a phone? A lot of people want me to say no, but a lot…” he said, trailing off without completing the thought. This deliberate ambiguity suggests Amazon may be exploring the concept without committing to a full launch.
For now, the company’s focus remains on expanding its devices and services ecosystem, particularly around Alexa and generative AI. But with Panay , a former Microsoft Surface executive , at the helm, the possibility of an Amazon smartphone is not entirely off the table.
(Source: The Verge)
