Amazon to Discontinue Astro for Business, Shifts Focus to Robots

Amazon.com announced on Wednesday that it will discontinue its Astro for Business robot, which was tailored for small- and medium-sized enterprises, in favor of focusing on its household robot initiatives.

Initial Launch and Purpose:

Astro, the canine-like robot, was first introduced for household use in 2021. The business variant, Astro for Business, launched in November 2022, was designed to cater to various sectors, including retail, manufacturing, and health and wellness. The business version was intended to assist with round-the-clock monitoring and other business tasks.

Shift in Focus:

An Amazon spokesperson emailed Reuters, “To accelerate our progress and ongoing research to make Astro the best in-home robot, we’ve made the decision to wind down support for Astro for Business.”

The household version of Astro was designed to handle tasks such as home monitoring, setting up routines and reminders, and playing music and TV shows, all while being mobile within the home.

Discontinuation and Customer Compensation:

The Astro for Business robot, priced at $2,349.99 and available only in the U.S., will cease function from September 25. Customers affected by this change received an email detailing the discontinuation.

Amazon has offered affected customers a $300 credit, which can be used to support a replacement solution for their business needs. Starting Wednesday, customers will no longer be charged the Astro Secure subscription fee and will receive refunds for unused pre-paid fees.