#amazon

Amazon’s shareholders proposed that the company allocate 5% of its reserves to Bitcoin. The request submitted by the National Center for Public Policy Research suggests addressing this at the 2025 shareholder meeting.

Amazon is set to launch a paid version of its Alexa voice assistant, aiming to monetize the system, which is currently non-profit, by integrating generative AI capabilities. Early reports suggest that the subscription for the premium Alexa service will cost around $5 per month.

French AI developer H has raised $220 million, including investments from venture capitalists, to establish the next generation of artificial intelligence. Among the investors are notable companies like Amazon, Samsung, and even Google's technical advisor, Eric Emerson Schmidt.

Amazon Music is beta-testing a feature known as Maestro, an artificial intelligence-driven playlist generator. This functionality allows users to create personalized playlists through text input, emojis, specified emotions, or even auditory cues like other songs.

The Amazon One app, leveraging generative AI to scan palm veins and generate a payment-ready fingerprint, has now introduced functionality with photographs from a regular smartphone. Initially, enrolling a palm required visiting an Amazon physical store.

Lance Hill, the original screenwriter of the 1989 film "Road House," sued Amazon MGM Studios for alleged copyright infringement and artificial intelligence misuse. Hill claims the studio expedited the remake's production, using AI to generate actor dialogue before the copyrights reverted to him.

On Amazon's online trading platform, a multitude of products have emerged with descriptions and names fully generated using ChatGPT. However, there's a twist: instead of the intended text, a message stating the inability to provide a response due to OpenAI's policies is displayed.

US stablecoin legislation negotiations have stalled, with House Financial Services Chair Patrick McHenry blaming the White House. McHenry noted that the parties were closer than ever to a bipartisan deal after 15 months of talks. However, Rep. Maxine Waters criticized the current stablecoin bill as "deeply problematic," voicing concerns about state regulators approving stablecoin issuances without Federal Reserve input. She also feared companies like Amazon and Facebook issuing their own digital currencies.

In an interview with Wired, Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino discussed the company’s plans to expand its venture investments, particularly in the AI sector.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated an investigation into Zoox, an Amazon-owned developer of systems for autonomous vehicles, following two incidents involving Toyota Highlander SUVs equipped with its technology.

Amazon has decided to phase out its AI-powered cashierless 'Just Walk Out' system in its grocery stores. It turns out that, despite the use of automation technologies like cameras and sensors, the system still required the efforts of thousands of employees in India who were tasked with real-time product labeling verification.

American startup Figure, specializing in robotics, has garnered $675 million in investments from technological giants including Microsoft, OpenAI, Amazon, and Nvidia. This influx of capital has propelled the 80-person company to a valuation of $2.6 billion. Figure's initial plan was to develop a humanoid robot within its first year of operation.