Amazon updated its Echo speaker lineup today, including a new $40 model with a semi-spherical design, the Echo Pop. Additionally, Echo Auto is coming to more countries. The Echo Pop is Amazon's newest entry-level Alexa-powered device. Its half-globe design uses a front-facing speaker with "full sound," although it sounds like it will be a better fit for small spaces like dorm rooms where you only need to hear it from one direction. It also carries over two features from the latest Echo Dot. First, it has Amazon's AZ2 Neural Edge processor for on-device machine learning tasks.

Amazon has unveiled its newest delivery drone that will soon be dropping packages from 12 feet in the air in two U.S. cities. The retail giant has long wanted to solve the last leg of package delivery, especially since it launched Amazon Prime's Two-Day delivery offering in 2005. Jeff Bezos first announced drone delivery in 2013, but the service only made a single delivery three years after that. The drone, dubbed MK27-2, will start making deliveries in Lockeford, California, and College Station, Texas, by the end of 2022. The autonomous craft is about five-and-a-half feet in diameter, weighs 80 pounds and can only carry packages that weight less than five pounds.

Amazon's new robot can hear, see and follow you around the home, but it's no Rosey the Robot. Amazon's version, called Astro, doesn't cook or clean like the animated character from "The Jetsons," but it can check if you left the stove on while you're out or send an alert if someone enters the house it doesn't recognize. It uses cameras, sensors and artificial technology to avoid walls or dogs, and Amazon said Astro will only get smarter as time goes on. It does do some housework: Snacks or a can of soda can be placed on its back to be carted to someone across the house. The $1,000 robot, which will be sent out to customers later this year, was one of a slew of gadgets Amazon unveiled Tuesday as part of its annual event ahead of the holidays.

Amazon is releasing a revamped version of its wireless Echo Buds that are lighter, smaller, and feature a redesigned case for wireless charging. The tech giant unveiled its next-generation Echo Buds on Wednesday. The wireless earbuds will be available in either black or glacier white, and will sell for $119.99 for a version with wired charging or $139.99 for one with wireless charging. For a limited time, both sets of earbuds will go for $99.99 and $119.99, They will also include six free months of Amazon Music Unlimited and Audible Plus (customers must be eligible for a free trial).

I expect it to generate a huge amount of interest from technology enthusiasts who are typically the people who embrace smart home technology first. However, it is also likely to provoke a huge discussion around privacy and the future role of technology in the home.

Amazon is rolling out self-driving delivery robots. The internet giant announced Wednesday that six'Scout' robots will deliver packages to customers in a neighborhood in Snohomish County, Washington. Each Scout robot is a squat, bright blue device that gets around on six wheels. The battery-powered devices about the size of a small cooler and can deliver packages autonomously. And city or suburban dwellers don't have to worry about Scout running them over on the street, as Amazon says the robots'roll along sidewalks at a walking pace.'

Amazon is taking the wraps off of a slew of new devices. During a pop-up event at its Seattle headquarters, the tech giant unveiled a brand new version of its Echo Dot, which features big boosts to its sound quality - broadcasting sounds at 70 percent louder volumes. The revamped Echo Dot, which the firm said is it's best-selling speaker ever, is expected to begin shipping next month and costs the same as prior versions at $49.99. Amazon also revealed an Alexa-powered microwave, which lets users heat up their food hands-free. The microwave is priced at $60 and will start shipping later this year. Buyers must already own an Alexa-equipped speaker to take advantage of voice commands.

NEW YORK – Alexa for couch potatoes is coming: Amazon's new streaming TV device will let users shout out when they want to turn on the TV, flip channels or search for sitcoms -- all without pushing any buttons. The Fire TV Cube is not entirely hands-free yet, however. Some apps or streaming services may require viewers to pick up the included remote to rewind or stop a show. Inc. says it's working with those services to integrate voice commands. Amazon's other voice-controlled Fire TV devices require a push of the remote's mic button or a separate Echo device with Amazon's Alexa voice assistant.

Amazon wants companies to take advantage of artificial intelligence -- and, more importantly, it wants to sell them the tools to do so. Today, the online retailer's business subsidiary, Amazon Web Services (AWS), unveiled a suite of new products to help with this goal. Chief among them is a $250 AI-powered camera called DeepLens; a new platform for developing and deploying machine learning algorithms named SageMaker; and services for AI-powered transcription and translation. With these and other tools, Amazon is making it clear that during the current AI boom, it wants to be the one getting rich shelling shovels. At the same time, these announcement show it butting heads with rival Google, which has been busy building its own AI enterprise stack.

Amazon wants companies to take advantage of artificial intelligence -- and, more importantly, it wants to sell them the tools to do so. Today, the online retailer's business subsidiary, Amazon Web Services (AWS), unveiled a suite of new products to help with this goal. Chief among them is a $250 AI-powered camera called DeepLens; a new platform for developing and deploying machine learning algorithms named SageMaker; and services for AI-powered transcription and translation. With these and other tools, Amazon is making it clear that during the current AI boom, it wants to be the one getting rich shelling shovels. At the same time, these announcement show it butting heads with rival Google, which has been busy building its own AI enterprise stack.