Amazon device chief Panos Panay says AI hardware could reduce the need for app-based interaction

Amazon devices chief Panos Panay said at TechCrunch Disrupt that AI hardware is moving toward ambient computing, where devices may handle tasks without requiring users to open and manage apps directly. He described a model in which sensors and AI systems work in the background to interpret user needs on their own, rather than waiting for explicit commands. Panay pointed to Bee, a newly launched wearable under Amazon, as an example of that direction. He said the device can passively capture audio and help with everyday tasks. He also stressed that privacy sits at the center of the product design: raw audio is processed in real time and then deleted, while conversation transcripts are encrypted with on-device keys. He added that as AI takes on more work, the importance of app interaction may decline. In his view, the next generation of users may stop asking for apps and instead expect devices to understand what they need. At the same time, Panay said smartphones will remain an important personal computing device, even as more sensor-based products appear to bring intelligence into the surrounding environment.