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A vacuuming Roomba mannequin robotic is displayed at iRobot headquarters in Bedford, Massachusetts
Scott Eells | Bloomberg | Getty Photos
Amazon is buying iRobot for $61 a share, an all-cash deal that values the Roomba maker at $1.7 billion, the businesses introduced Friday.
The deal will deepen Amazon’s presence in shopper robotics. Amazon made a daring wager on the house final 12 months when it unveiled the Astro dwelling robotic, a $1,500 machine that is outfitted with the corporate’s Alexa digital assistant and might comply with shoppers round their dwelling. It is also launched an array of sensible dwelling gadgets that buyers can management with their voice, like thermometers, lightbulbs and microwaves.
iRobot, based in 1990 by Massachusetts Institute of Know-how roboticists, is greatest recognized for making the Roomba, a robotic vacuum that may clear shoppers’ flooring autonomously.
Shares of iRobot had been halted after the deal was introduced. Amazon’s inventory was up about 0.2% in premarket buying and selling.
That is breaking information. Please examine again for updates.
