At its last annual hardware event in the fall, Amazon announced new devices and reinforced its commitment to using AI to make existing products more useful to consumers.

The e-commerce giant kicked off the event with an update to the Echo Show 8. The smart display features a faster processor, a centered 13-megapixel camera for more natural video calls, and spatial audio technology. It also features a new dynamic user interface. When you stand far away from the Echo Show 8, information is displayed in a larger font. Move closer, however, and the same information is displayed in more detail. Additionally, users can opt in to Amazon’s Visual ID feature, allowing the Echo Show 8 to display personalized content, including recent playlists and calendar events.

The Echo Show 8 more consistently uses a new large language model that Amazon says makes interacting with Alexa more conversational. In practice, the new model means you won't have to say the personal assistant's wake phrase repeatedly and Alexa's voice should sound more natural, too. "Our latest model is optimized specifically for voice and the things we know our customers love, like accessing real-time information, efficiently controlling their smart home, and getting the most out of their home entertainment," said Dave Limp, senior vice president of Amazon Devices and Services.

Amazon also announced the Echo Hub. It's an 8-inch smart display that the company expects most people to mount on their wall. Like other Echo devices, the Hub will let you control all of your smart home devices from one place, with support for both Matter and Thread. The Echo Hub also has a USB-C port, for those who want to connect their router to the device. The Echo Hub will cost $180 when it goes on sale later this year. Meanwhile, the $150 Echo Show 8 is available for preorder starting today, with general availability in late October.