Amazon: From Garage Startup to AI Giant

Origins and History

Amazon was founded in July 1994 by Jeff Bezos in Bellevue, Washington, starting as an online bookstore operating from his garage. The company went public in 1997 and rapidly expanded beyond books to become "The Everything Store." Key milestones include the launch of Amazon Web Services in 2006, the introduction of Kindle in 2007, and Alexa in 2014.

Mission

To be Earth's Most Customer-Centric Company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online.

Vision

To be the world's most customer-centric company, to build a place where people can come to find and discover anything they might want to buy online.

Core Values

• Customer Obsession
• Ownership
• Invent and Simplify
• Learn and Be Curious
• Hire and Develop the Best
• Insist on the Highest Standards
• Think Big
• Bias for Action
• Frugality
• Earn Trust
• Dive Deep
• Have Backbone; Disagree and Commit
• Deliver Results
• Strive to be Earth's Best Employer
• Success and Scale Bring Broad Responsibility

Products and Services

Amazon operates in multiple segments including e-commerce marketplace, Amazon Prime, AWS cloud services, advertising services, Kindle devices, Fire tablets, Echo smart speakers, Ring security systems, and various AI-powered services.

Latest Technologies and Trends

Amazon is heavily investing in generative AI with services like Amazon Bedrock, CodeWhisperer for developers, and integration of AI across AWS services. The company is also advancing in robotics, autonomous delivery systems, and sustainable technologies.

Curiosities

• Amazon's logo arrow points from A to Z, symbolizing they sell everything
• The company's headquarters features biodomes called The Spheres
• Amazon's cloud division AWS generates the majority of the company's profits