Amazon Reconsiders Smartphone Market with 'Transformer' Project

Amazon is developing a new smartphone, codenamed "Transformer," over a decade after its Fire Phone device was discontinued. This latest effort, housed within the company's devices and services unit, aims to create a mobile personalisation device. It intends to sync with the Alexa voice assistant and link to Amazon customers throughout their day.

Credit: AMAZON

The "Transformer" project signifies a new attempt at a long held vision. Founder Jeff Bezos previously envisioned a pervasive voice driven computing assistant, mirroring technology from "Star Trek." His earlier Fire Phone, launched in 2014, centred on shopping. It sought to rival Apple by offering Prime membership shipping benefits and discounts, alongside collecting mobile phone user data, purchase history, and content preferences.

However, the Fire Phone, directly overseen by Bezos, was abandoned in just over a year, becoming one of Amazon's most notable product failures. An Amazon spokesperson declined to comment on the new "Transformer" project. Shares of the company recently fell 1.6 per cent to USD 205.37, marking a 9.3 per cent decline for the year.

A key focus of the "Transformer" project involves integrating artificial intelligence capabilities, according to four individuals familiar with internal company matters who requested anonymity. This AI integration could potentially negate the requirement for traditional app stores, which typically demand users download and register applications. Alexa is expected to be a core feature, though not necessarily the device's primary operating system.

The brief history of hardware with artificial intelligence features includes several unsuccessful ventures. Both the Humane AI pin and the Rabbit R1 assistant aimed to provide generative AI access without computer or mobile phone logins. Both received poor critical reviews, with the Humane pin subsequently discontinued. And this has not deterred other Big Tech companies from pursuing AI native devices that depart from the app driven visual language common in smartphones.

OpenAI is collaborating with former Apple design chief Jony Ive on various hardware prototypes. Apple, Google, and Meta are also actively developing new AI embedded glasses, alongside other wearables such as watches and headphones. Francisco Jeronimo, vice president of data and analytics at International Data Corporation, noted Amazon's opportunity. He cited the company's strong services ecosystem spanning commerce, content, cloud, and its existing AI foundation with Alexa, coupled with extensive data driven customer engagement expertise.

But Jeronimo cautioned that this window of opportunity is narrow. He stated that every major player is moving in the same direction. While Amazon's AWS division leads in global cloud computing infrastructure, the company has faced criticism for being slow in offering AI applications as rivals advanced.

Alexa underwent a multi year AI led revamp before its re launch in 2025. This is considered vital for Amazon's consumer facing services future. The new phone, according to sources reported by Reuters, represents another attempt by Amazon to accelerate customer AI usage, either directly on the device or via Alexa.

The original Fire Phone, launched in 2014, featured a camera based shopping tool that identified products for purchase on Amazon.com. The phone's proprietary Fire OS lacked many popular apps available on Android and iOS. Its complex multi camera screen system for 3D images consumed significant battery, often causing overheating.

Amazon included a free year of Prime with the Fire Phone, yet sales remained poor. The price was cut from USD 649 unlocked to USD 159. The phone was cancelled after 14 months, leading to a USD 170 million charge for unsold inventory.

Colin Sebastian, an analyst at financial firm R.W. Baird, said Amazon's previous smartphone failure does not preclude a new attempt, but warned it would be difficult. He suggested Amazon must provide consumers a compelling reason to switch, given existing app store loyalty.

And Amazon faces the challenging task of competing with market leaders Apple and Samsung, which together held approximately 40 per cent of global sales last year. Furthermore, smartphone shipments are projected to decline by 13 per cent in 2026, the largest ever anticipated fall, due to surging memory chip prices increasing device costs, according to IDC.

The new phone project is being managed by ZeroOne, a group within Amazon's devices unit formed a year ago. Its mandate is to create "breakthrough" gadgets, sources reported. J Allard, a former Microsoft executive involved with devices like the Zune music player and Xbox gaming console, leads ZeroOne.

Panos Panay, head of Amazon's devices and services unit, has been working to reverse years of unprofitability. This includes an upcoming tablet, previously reported by Reuters, which will run Android instead of Fire OS for the first time, potentially selling for about USD 400.

The Transformer project remains under development, according to three involved individuals. The company has explored both traditional smartphone and "dumbphone" options, devices with fewer features, possibly to counter screen addiction. Amazon has not yet sought wireless carrier partners.

One inspiration for the new phone concept has been the Light Phone, according to two sources. This USD 700 minimalist smartphone includes only a camera, map, and calendar, without an app store or web browser.

So, a "dumbphone" could be marketed as a secondary handset, complementing iPhones and Samsung Galaxies already owned by customers. Such handsets, including the Light Phone and flip phones, comprised 15 per cent of global handset sales in 2025, Counterpoint Research reported.

Chetan Sharma, an independent wireless analyst, highlighted the scarcity of data on individuals carrying multiple phones. He noted this practice is most common among white collar workers seeking privacy from employers, or parents providing devices to teenagers to limit social media access.

• Amazon is developing a new smartphone, codenamed "Transformer," focused on AI integration and mobile personalisation.

• The project, within Amazon's devices and services unit, aims to sync with Alexa and potentially eliminate traditional app stores.

• This represents a renewed attempt after the 2014 Fire Phone, a notable product failure overseen by Jeff Bezos.

• The ZeroOne group, led by J Allard, is managing the "Transformer" project, tasked with creating "breakthrough" gadgets.

• Amazon has explored both traditional smartphone and "dumbphone" concepts, with the latter potentially serving as a secondary device.

Source: Reuters

Compostable Robot Endures Million Cycles, Disappears into Soil

A new fully compostable soft robotic system has been developed that survives over one million uses before entirely decomposing in soil. This innovative robot matches the durability of conventional robots while leaving no toxic residues behind.

Credit: Youtube/Seoul National University

The development addresses a persistent challenge in robotics, where materials typically face a trade-off between biodegradability and performance. Global electronic waste reached approximately 62 million metric tons in 2022, with soft robots contributing to this accumulation.

A research team from Seoul National University, Sogang University, and Johannes Kepler University Linz created the system. Professor Seung-Kyun Kang of Seoul National University, a lead researcher, stated that this work “sets a new benchmark for sustainable robotics.”

The robot’s structural frame consists of poly(glycerol sebacate), or PGS. This water-free biodegradable elastomer is known for its low hysteresis and strong elastic recovery.

The PGS-based bending actuator maintained consistent bending angles and output forces over one million actuation cycles. It also showed stable performance after extended storage, meeting a critical requirement for real-world deployment.

Its embedded electronics are similarly unconventional, utilising biodegradable inorganic components instead of traditional metal and semiconductor parts. These electronics decompose concurrently with the structural frame.

This integration results in a fully degradable system, ensuring both the structure and electronics decompose cleanly, leaving no residual waste. Under industrial composting conditions, the complete robotic system’s components decomposed within a few months.

Subsequent plant growth tests on the resulting compost confirmed the absence of environmental toxicity. This indicates the robot not only degrades but also produces a usable soil amendment.

The research team demonstrated practical field applications for agricultural use cases. Biodegradable inorganic electronic components, made from magnesium, molybdenum, and silicon, were combined within a single soft robotic finger.

These components included sensors for curvature, strain, touch, temperature, humidity, and pH, alongside heaters, electrical stimulators, and drug-delivery modules. This shows a highly integrated, multifunctional biodegradable electronic platform.

This research directly addresses growing oversight in the robotics industry regarding end-of-life considerations. The demonstrated robot redefines what it means for a robot to be truly disposable.

The global soft robotics market is expected to grow rapidly, making the safe disposal of these devices increasingly important. This research sets a new benchmark for sustainable robotics.

These findings were published in the journal Nature Sustainability.

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• A fully compostable soft robotic system has been developed.

• The robot endures over one million actuation cycles, matching conventional robot durability.

• It fully decomposes in soil within months, leaving no toxic residues and producing usable soil amendment.

Source: INTERESTING ENGINEERING

China Urges EV Makers to Prioritise Innovation Over Price War

Chinese authorities are pushing for stricter oversight of the electric vehicle market, urging carmakers to prioritise technological innovation. This directive comes as manufacturers face cooling demand and the end of government subsidies.

Credit: UNSPLASH

Government bodies, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the State Administration for Market Regulation, convened 17 major carmakers. The meeting aimed to regulate competition and stabilise a sector marked by an ongoing price war.

Officials pledged to strengthen price monitoring and cost investigations. Companies were also urged to honour their 60-day payment cycle commitment to suppliers.

A progress report from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, a government-backed industry consortium, indicated that the 17 carmakers reduced average payment cycles to 54 days. Four of these carmakers settled payments in under 50 days.

Extended payment cycles have been a cost-cutting measure in China’s automobile market, but they have reduced supply-chain profitability. This occurs even as Beijing works to counter deflationary pressures.

The government encouraged companies to shift from price-based competition to innovation-led growth. This involves accelerating the development of domestic automotive chips, foundational software, and self-driving systems to lessen reliance on foreign technology.

With direct subsidies now phased out, Beijing has focused on fostering organic demand and global expansion. This includes promoting vehicle trade-in programmes and the broader use of new-energy heavy trucks.

The vehicle trade-in subsidy scheme, renewed at the end of 2025, provides cash incentives for buyers replacing older vehicles. New-energy models receive higher subsidies.

Authorities plan policy documents to foster a healthy car modification market, aiming to unlock consumer potential. The government also seeks to enhance financial credit services and international logistics to support Chinese EV exports and overseas operations.

In the first two months of the year, China sold more than 1.7 million new-energy vehicles, a 7% decrease from the previous year. This decline occurred as consumers became more budget-conscious following the phasing out of a 10% sales tax exemption.

Electric vehicle makers, including BYD, have shifted their focus in recent launches to supercharging technology and updated intelligent driving systems. They are also accelerating overseas sales efforts.

Sales of electric vehicles in Europe increased by 33% year on year to 4.3 million units in 2025. This data comes from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, a London-based minerals research and pricing firm.

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• Chinese authorities are urging electric vehicle makers to focus on innovation over aggressive discounting.

• Government bodies met with 17 major carmakers to regulate competition and stabilise the market.

• Officials pledged to strengthen price monitoring and called for companies to honour supplier payment cycles.

Source: SCMP