Amazon has announced that it will discontinue its Astro for Business version of the robot, effective September 25. The company will reimburse the amount invested in these devices to organizations and maintain the domestic version of the device. Astro was introduced in September 2021 as a way to make life easier for users by combining Alexa with a computer vision system for functions like caring for dependents or pets.
Initially focused on home environments, Amazon later expanded Astro’s use in US companies for tasks such as monitoring warehouses or touring facilities. However, the company has now decided to stop offering Astro for Business and will limit its use to home environments starting on September 25. This means that the robots will no longer be available for purchase and all personal data on the devices will be deleted.
Amazon is issuing full refunds for the robot and providing an additional $300 credit to accounts on the platform. Subscriptions to the Astro Secure service will no longer be charged. The company stated that this decision is based on a commitment to bring consumer robotics solutions to the home and is currently working on new features for the robot. This discontinuation brings an end to Astro’s availability for businesses in the US as of September 25.
