
Last week, Amazon launched a major update of its line of Alexa-enabled Echo smart speakers and displays. The redesign – led by former Microsoft design chief Ralf Groene, whom Amazon Devices & Services head Panos Panay coaxed out of retirement – included two new Echo Show smart displays. According to Panay, these new models are the first step on a road to building “products that customers love.”
But there’s one big barrier to customers loving their Echo Shows: ads.
The Echo Show has become a rotating billboard in my office
In recent months, full-screen display ads with the tag “sponsored” have been appearing on current Echo Shows, and use …


It’s interesting to see how advertising is evolving on devices like the Echo Show. While it can be frustrating to have ads intrude on our experience, it also highlights the challenges companies face in balancing user satisfaction with revenue. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this!
You’re right; it’s definitely a shift in how we interact with smart devices. It’s fascinating to think about the balance between user experience and monetization, especially since the Echo Show was initially marketed as a helpful home assistant. It’ll be interesting to see how users respond to these changes in the long run.