Amazon Alexa could be in eight new devices later this month, including a microwave

Elaine
Thompson/AP

• Amazon is reportedly set to announce at least eight new
  devices powered by its Alexa voice assistant at an event later in
  September, according to
  CNBC. 
• The devices are said to be in the audio, home appliance, and
  automobile categories — including a microwave.
• If accurate, the new products would be a clear signal from
  Amazon that it wants to be become more present in places where
  you spend the most time. 

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.