Amazon isn’t allowing ads on Alexa just yet
But the e-commerce giant is wrestling with how to let third-party firms make money off of software designed for its virtual assistant.
Background: Earlier this year, CNBC reported that Amazon was working out how it could run ads on its Alexa voice assistant.
Now: The Information ($) reports that the firm denied Sony’s request to run ads on its Jeopardy app (sorry, “skill”) for Alexa. The e-tailer told Sony that ads would put people off playing.
This story is only available to subscribers.
Don’t settle for half the story.
Get paywall-free access to technology news for the here and now.
Subscribe now
Already a subscriber?
Sign in
You’ve read all your free stories.
MIT Technology Review provides an
intelligent and independent filter for the
flood of information about technology.
Subscribe now
Already a subscriber?
Sign in
The case for ads: Developers don’t make any money from Alexa skills currently, because they’re free to install. Ads could change that.
The case against: The user experience of a voice assistant with ads would, to put it bluntly, be dreadful. And Amazon says it wants using Alexa to be “a delightful experience.”
What next: The Information says Amazon will experiment with premium skills, where users pay a few dollars for specific features. That may appease developers—for a while, at least.
