> The report also highlighted the dire need for this [AI] version of Alexa to make money to keep the voice assistant alive.

The early iPhone left doors open for experiments that could later be supported and productized. Alexa failed to open up devices for experiments that could seed innovation. Look at the failure of the official "Skills" program, compared to the thriving HomeAssistant ecosystem that is an obvious match for smart speakers.

If the device fails, 500K devices should be unlocked for use with generic Linux, instead of being relegated to landfill.