Tech pioneer and Xbox co-founder, Ed Fries, heads up 'ZeroOne' team at Amazon, shrouded in secrecy.
Amazon Introduces new Team for Progressive Consumer Products, Led by Xbox Co-founder
Amazon's newly formed team, codenamed ZeroOne, is focusing on creating groundbreaking consumer products. The team, headed by J Allard, a former executive at Microsoft who played a pivotal role in the inception of Xbox, will operate in both hardware and software domains. Members of the team are based in Seattle, San Francisco, and Sunnyvale, California, as reported by CNBC.
Allard is currently the Vice President of ZeroOne, as per his LinkedIn profile, and has been with Amazon since September 2024. He joined the tech giant after spending 19 years at Microsoft, primarily recognized for his role in the development of Xbox. During his time at Microsoft, he also worked on the Zune, Kin phone, and the Courier tablet.
ZeroOne belongs to Amazon's Devices and Services team, which is headed by Panos Panay, the former chief of Microsoft Surface. Amazon confirmed to CNBC that Allard leads the ZeroOne team, but the company did not divulge further details about the team's projects.
While Amazon has refused to reveal specifics about the ZeroOne team's endeavors, job postings provide some insights. According to one such Amazon listing, the team values "design thinking, rapid experimentation, and building to learn." The listing also mentions that the team is looking for members who are excited about working in small, agile teams to create entirely new product categories and thrive in the uncertainty of innovative developments.
From clues gathered by CNBC, the ZeroOne team potentially works on all aspects of product development, from conceptualization to delivery. However, the precise focus areas remain unclear. It is speculated that the team may focus on smart home products that employ cutting-edge computer vision technology, indicating a move towards advanced home automation and surveillance systems.
Amazon's Devices and Services team, which now comprises Panay and Allard, is anticipated to enhance the tech giant's hardware lineup. Panay, who left Microsoft due to significant cuts in experimental devices, has expressed his desire for "perfection in every single product" that Amazon ships. He has already unveiled Alexa+ this year and is known for his meticulous attention to detail in his previous role at Microsoft's Surface team.
Amazon has had success with several hardware products, such as Kindle e-readers, Echo smart speakers, and Fire streaming sticks. The company has also experienced setbacks, such as the failed Fire Phone. However, the involvement of Panay and Allard suggests an ambitious effort to innovate and push boundaries in the consumer electronics market.
While specific upcoming products are undisclosed, the potential for sophisticated household automation solutions or entirely new categories of consumer electronics is plausible. The team's diverse background, with members from Alexa, Luna gaming, Halo sleep tracker, and acquired startups like Lightform, enables the development of a wide range of technology domains.
- The ZeroOne team, led by J Allard, a former Microsoft executive known for his role in Xbox development, will work in both hardware and software domains at Amazon.
- Allard's team is anticipated to enhance Amazon's hardware lineup, with Panos Panay, the former chief of Microsoft Surface, leading the Devices and Services team.
- Job postings suggest that the ZeroOne team values "design thinking, rapid experimentation, and building to learn," and they are seeking members who thrive in the uncertainty of innovative developments.
- The team potentially works on all aspects of product development, from conceptualization to delivery, and it is speculated they may focus on smart home products that employ cutting-edge computer vision technology.
- Microsoft's involvement in gaming with Xbox and its experiments with Zune, Kin phone, and Courier tablet might influence the direction of the ZeroOne team's projects.
- The team's diverse background, including members from Alexa, Luna gaming, Halo sleep tracker, and acquired startups like Lightform, allows for the development of a wide range of technology domains.
- Amazon's new ZeroOne team, under the leadership of J Allard and Panos Panay, could potentially revolutionize the consumer electronics market and introduce groundbreaking consumer products, following in the footsteps of Microsoft's gaming and technology ventures.
