Amazon is reportedly working on a new smartphone centered on its AI assistant Alexa, nearly a decade after discontinuing the Fire Phone. According to Reuters, the device, code-named “Transformer,” is being developed by Amazon’s ZeroOne group led by J Allard, a former Microsoft executive known for his work on the Zune and Xbox. The project is said to explore both smartphone and minimalist “dumbphone” designs inspired by the $700 Light Phone, which features a black-and-white display and no app store.
The “Transformer” phone will reportedly integrate artificial intelligence capabilities at its core, though Alexa may not serve as the primary operating system. Instead of a traditional app store, the device could rely on mini apps similar to those used in ChatGPT. Amazon has not announced a release timeline or pricing details, and it remains uncertain whether the phone will reach the market.
The move comes as Amazon seeks to strengthen its position in AI following the underperformance of its LLM-powered Alexa Plus, which drew user complaints about slower responses and excessive advertising.