Amazon has a secretive new hardware group led by former Xbox leader J Allard

New job postings shed more light on what J Allard is up to at Amazon.

GeekWire reported in October that the former Xbox leader had joined Amazon’s Devices and Services team, which is the part of the company that includes the Alexa voice assistant and Echo devices, among other products and initiatives.

Allard’s profile on LinkedIn now shows that he’s the VP of “ZeroOne.”

Citing recent job posts, CNBC reported Thursday that the group is focused on developing new hardware and software products. One posting for a senior applied scientist within ZeroOne notes that the position will be “conceiving, designing, and bringing to market computer vision techniques for a new smart-home product.”

We reached out to Amazon for more details.

Allard is working under former Microsoft Windows and Devices executive, Panos Panay, who joined Amazon in 2023 to lead its Devices and Services team.

Allard was at Microsoft from 1991 to 2010. As chief experience officer and chief technology officer of Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices Division, he co-founded Xbox, Xbox Live, Live Arcade and Xbox 360, among the more than 40 products he launched.

Amazon has had a longtime hardware group called Lab126, best known for creating its Kindle e-readers, Fire tablets and Echo smart speakers.

Earlier this month Amazon cut about 100 jobs in its Devices & Services division, the part of the company that includes its Alexa voice assistant, Echo smart speakers, Zoox robo-taxis and Project Kuiper satellite internet venture.

The company said at the time it was still hiring in Devices & Services, with hundreds of open roles.

Amazon recently rolled out Alexa+, the new version of its voice assistant that uses generative AI for more natural interactions.