Amazon announced on Wednesday that it would discontinue its Astro for Business security robot programme less than a year after its launch.

The ecommerce giant cited a renewed focus on household robotics as the reason behind this decision.

The Astro for Business robot, introduced in November 2023, was designed to autonomously patrol and monitor up to 5,000 square feet of space in small- and medium-sized businesses. Priced at $2,349.99, the 20-pound wheeled robot featured an HD periscope camera and night vision technology.

Confirming the news in a statement on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the company said: "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 company emphasised its commitment to developing world-class consumer robotics solutions for the home, adding, "We're excited about the in-home experiences we're inventing for Astro, and look forward to sharing more in the future."

Customers have been informed that their Astro for Business devices will cease functioning on 25 September. In an email to customers, Amazon wrote, "While we are proud of what we've built, we've made the decision to end support for Astro for Business to put our focus on making Astro the best robot for the home."

The company has promised full refunds for the original cost of the device, along with a $300 credit to help businesses find alternative security solutions. Additionally, customers will receive refunds for any unused, pre-paid Astro Secure subscription fees.

Lindo St. Angel, Amazon's vice president of hardware engineering, explained in an internal memo that advancements in generative AI have made the potential for home robotics even more exciting. He stated, "I am increasingly convinced the progress we're making in home robotics is where we should focus our resources. To do this, and accelerate our progress further, we've made the decision to wind down the Astro for Business program to focus our efforts entirely on building the best consumer robotics products for the home."

The company has encouraged customers to recycle their Astro for Business devices through the Amazon Recycling Programme, covering all associated shipping and recycling costs.

While this decision marks a significant shift in Amazon's robotics strategy, the company said that it remains committed to its consumer-focused Astro robot. Launched in 2021, the home version of Astro is designed for tasks such as home monitoring, setting reminders, and playing media.

Amazon has not announced any job losses as a result of this decision, with affected employees reportedly shifting their focus to consumer robotics products for the home. The company declined to disclose how many customers are impacted by the discontinuation of Astro for Business, but assured that "There's a lot of work to be done, but I am excited for this change and where it will lead us on the next stage of our journey," as St. Angel noted in his memo.

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