New York, January 7, 2026, 16:04 EST — After-hours
- Amazon shares rose in regular trade as it rolled out Alexa.com and new Alexa+ tie-ups at CES 2026
- AWS expanded an autonomous-driving development partnership with Aumovio, with Aurora’s truck plans in view
- Investors are watching Friday’s U.S. jobs report and Amazon’s expected Feb. 5 earnings timing
Amazon.com shares rose on Wednesday after the company used the CES technology show to broaden its Alexa+ push, including a web rollout at Alexa.com alongside new device and partner tie-ins. The stock was last up 0.5% at $242.06, after trading between $239.52 and $245.28. About Amazon
The timing matters because investors want proof that Amazon’s AI spending can translate into everyday usage — and eventually revenue — rather than demos. The web launch also puts Alexa+ in front of users who may not own an Echo device, as Amazon jockeys for attention against chatbots such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Alphabet’s Gemini. “Seventy-six percent of what customers are using Alexa+ for no other AI can do,” Daniel Rausch, Amazon’s VP of Alexa and Echo, told TechCrunch. TechCrunch
On the business side, Amazon’s cloud unit is also trying to lock in AI-heavy workloads beyond its core enterprise base. Amazon Web Services said it will become German automotive supplier Aumovio’s preferred cloud provider for autonomous-driving development, with the first use tied to Aurora’s planned scaling of driverless freight trucks from 2027. “The big accelerant in the industry has been the use of engineering AI,” AWS automotive and manufacturing general manager Ozgur Tohumcu told Reuters, referring to tools that can sift data faster — including “agentic AI,” software designed to plan and take steps to complete tasks. Reuters
But the upside case still has potholes. New consumer AI features can take time to change habits, and they can add costs before they add sales. Separately, a U.S. judge in Seattle rejected Amazon’s bid to dismiss a proposed class action accusing it of price gouging during the COVID-19 pandemic; plaintiffs’ lawyer Steve Berman called the ruling “an important win for consumers,” and Amazon did not immediately respond to requests for comment, Reuters reported. Reuters
The broader market tone stayed supportive for big tech even as investors weighed labor data ahead of Friday’s key U.S. payrolls report. The S&P 500 ended just above flat after notching a record high, while the Nasdaq rose about 0.5%, according to Reuters; the Labor Department’s Employment Situation report is due January 9. Reuters
Next up for AMZN is earnings: the market is penciling in a February 5 report after the close, though the company has not confirmed the date. Traders will be listening for commentary on AWS demand, the cost of building out AI capacity, and whether Alexa+ can drive more shopping and services through Amazon’s ecosystem. Yahoo
