in the short hour Amazon is swamped with product launches every fall, it can be hard to see the forest for the trees on why the company might need to sell a sleep-tracking alarm clock and, say, a robot.

But as Amazon figures out how to better deliver “ambient intelligence” — products in which computers and screen-driven interfaces fade into the background in favor of proactive information and natural, voice-driven interactions — it could seem to fill all possible niches with your Alexa voice assistant. as a valid solution.

Amazon this year framed its products around reducing distractions and limiting screen time, but its most interesting announcement might be how it’s now subtly positioning itself against the industry’s current obsession with mixed reality and the metaverse.

What…