Amazon’s Panos Panay on the long road to Alexa’s AI overhaul

Decoder with Nilay Patel

Vox Media Podcast Network

Technology, Business

4.3 • 3.2K Ratings

🗓️ 3 March 2025

⏱️ 74 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Panos Panay is in charge of devices and services at Amazon — that's everything from Alexa and Kindle to Ring, Eero, and even the Project Kuiper satellite internet service that's meant to compete with Starlink. He's led the team through giving Alexa a big AI infusion which is what drew him to Amazon after nearly 20 years with Microsoft. Like so many folks in tech, he sees AI as a platform shift that will change the way we use computers. Fair warning: We talk about Alexa a lot in this one, so you might want to go mute your Alexa device mics now. Links: With Alexa Plus, Amazon finally reinvents its best product | Verge The future of the Kindle with Panos Panay | Vergecast Amazon announces AI-powered Alexa Plus | Verge All of the announcements from Amazon’s Alexa Plus event | Verge Alexa Plus arrives with promise but plenty of questions | Verge Amazon Leadership Principles | Amazon How Amazon runs Alexa, with Dave Limp (2021) | Decoder Alexa loses her voice | YouTube Humane is shutting down the AI pin | Verge Mike Krieger wants to build AI products that are worth the hype | Verge Transcript: https://www.theverge.com/e/621232 Credits: Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. Our producers are Kate Cox and Nick Statt. Our editor is Ursa Wright. The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Support for the show comes from NetSuite.
0:02.0	NetSuite is a top-rated cloud ERP,
0:04.5	bringing accounting, financial management, inventory,
0:07.0	and HR into one fluid platform
0:09.5	with one single source of truth,
0:11.5	which means you can get real-time insights
0:13.0	and data to make the right decisions at the right time,
0:16.0	giving you the opportunity to stop looking
0:18.0	in their rearview mirror,
0:19.0	and instead, focus on the road ahead.
0:21.7	Speaking of opportunity, download the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning at netsuite.com
0:27.0	slash decoder. The guide is free to you at net suite.com slash decoder.
0:31.7	NetSuite.com slash decoder. Support comes from service now. We're for people doing the creative work they actually want to do.
0:39.8	That's why this ad was written and read by a real person. And not AI. You know what people don't want to do?
0:45.7	Boring, busy work. Now with AI agents built into the ServiceNow platform, you can automate millions of
0:51.0	repetitive tasks in every corner of your business, IT, HR, and more.
0:55.3	So your people can focus on the work that they want to do. That's putting AI agents to work for people.
1:01.1	It's your turn. Visit servicenow.com.
1:04.4	Support for Decoder comes from ARR. Have you ever wondered what's powering your smartphone
1:08.7	and other devices we interact with daily?
1:11.3	Or what lies at the heart of life-saving drug discoveries and robotic surgeries?
1:15.6	The answer is Arm.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Vox Media Podcast Network, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Vox Media Podcast Network and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.