Amazon bought iRobot to see inside your home

Its purchase of iRobot brings Amazon much-needed context for its ambient smart home ambitions. | Image: iRobot

When I spoke to iRobot's Colin Angle earlier this summer, he said iRobot OS - the latest software operating system for its robot vacuums and mops - would provide its household bots with a deeper understanding of your home and your habits. This takes on a whole new meaning with the news today that Amazon has bought iRobot for $1.7 billion.

From a smart home perspective, it seems clear Amazon wants iRobot for the maps it generates to give it that deep understanding of our homes. The vacuum company has detailed knowledge of our floor plans and, crucially, how they change. It knows where your kitchen is, which your kids' rooms are, where your sofa is (and how new it is), and if you recently turned the guest room into a nursery.

Knowing...

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