After debuting as a consumer robot for the home, Astro is making a move to businesses. It’s more expensive, but unlike the consumer model, is freely available today.
Amazon’s Astro robot is a curiosity. When we went hands-on with it, we found a lot to like, but its usefulness is admittedly limited. Its best feature, a free-roaming camera, is what makes its new job so appealing: security for businesses. But Amazon Astro for Business will cost quite a bit more.
The consumer version debuted at an invite-only $999 price and now stands at $1,599. A free-roaming camera is appealing if you’re concerned about security in your home when you’re away or sleeping. But without arms, it’s far from The Jetsons’ Rosie. The best you can do is put drinks in its carrier and tell it to deliver them.
On the other hand, Astro could be far more useful in a business setting. Anthony Robson, head of product for Amazon Astro, says « security continues to be a headache for business owners, [who] faced losses of nearly $100 billion in 2022, according to National Retail Federation stats.
« We think Astro for Business can help with that, » Robson says.
