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Amazon CEO Matt Garman announced in a blog post that the company no longer requires nondisclosure agreements with county officials negotiating data center projects. He also pledged $1 billion over five years for community college programs, workforce training, and energy efficiency upgrades in areas hosting Amazon data centers.
As AI shopping agents emerge, retailers are responding in different ways: QVC is opening its platform to them, Kate Spade allows agents to browse but not complete purchases, and Amazon is blocking them outright.
Amazon announced a new initiative to add $1 billion in community support as it seeks local buy-in for its ongoing data center build-out. The company is also promising greater transparency about its facilities, aiming to address concerns from residents and officials near proposed and existing sites.
Amazon Web Services CEO Matt Garman published a lengthy blog post urging Americans to support AI data center construction, warning that blocking projects could harm US economic and national security interests. Garman cited more than 100 data center moratoriums under consideration nationwide and announced a 'Data Center Commitment' including job creation pledges, protections against local electricity rate hikes, and over $1 billion in community investment. Amazon also said it has stopped using nondisclosure agreements with government agencies after a lawmaker's inquiry into such deals.
Amazon unveiled a refreshed line of Kindle e-readers, which the company says were redesigned from the ground up. Among the new accessories is an optional physical button clicker, priced at $35, that lets readers turn pages without tapping the touchscreen, along with new cover options.
Amazon Web Services released Strands Decider 2B, an open-source model built to choose between preset options and output a confidence score rather than generate text. It is small enough to run locally, launched the same week OpenAI unveiled a similar tool, and originated as a side project by AWS distinguished engineer Marc Brooker after he saw TypeSafe's Jev model.
Amazon has discounted the Logitech G515 Lightspeed TKL Wireless Gaming Keyboard by 50%, bringing it down from its $159.99 list price to $79.99. The tenkeyless board uses GL Brown tactile switches, offers LIGHTSPEED 2.4GHz, Bluetooth and USB-C connectivity, and includes per-key RGB lighting with roughly 36 hours of battery life.
Amazon introduced updated versions of its base Kindle, Kindle Colorsoft and Kindle Paperwhite e-readers, alongside a new lineup of accessories including a Bluetooth page-turning remote called Kindle Click. The base Kindle is now smaller, lighter and 30% faster to start up, with 16GB and 32GB models priced around $150 and $180 in colors like Ube, Graphite, Alpine Sky and Seaglass Green. The Paperwhite gets a thinner, lighter, waterproof design with a high-contrast screen, priced from $200 to $250 depending on storage and finish.
Amazon has dropped the price of its 2024 Kindle Colorsoft Kids to $209.99 from $299.99, a 30% cut matching the lowest price seen since Prime Day. The 16GB color E-Ink reader includes 6 months of Amazon Kids+, USB-C charging, an auto-adjusting front light, Dark Mode, and up to 12 weeks of battery life.
Amazon has cut the price of Belkin's 16-in-1 Triple Display USB-C Dock to $199.99, down $50 from its $249.99 list price, a 20% discount. The dock supports up to three external displays via DisplayLink, offers 2.5Gb Ethernet, multiple USB-A/USB-C ports, dual DisplayPort outputs, and delivers up to 100W of power to a connected laptop. The discount requires an active Amazon Prime membership.
Amazon has refreshed its Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Colorsoft e-readers, giving all three models flush screens instead of recessed displays. The update also introduces new color options and two page-turning accessories, a wireless remote and a cover case.
Amazon unveiled new Kindle accessories including the Kindle Click, a $35 Bluetooth remote with a wrist strap for turning pages without touching the device, compatible with all current and new Kindles. It also introduced an $80 Page-Turn-Cover with physical buttons and a wireless charging stand, both limited to the new Signature Edition Paperwhite and Colorsoft models with pogo pins. All items are available for pre-order now and ship October 28.