A gadget that can already be found in many households and answers to the name of “Alexa” has been a hit for Amazon. With the Echo device, it is possible to conduct a variety of routine tasks all with voice commands. You can even – no surprise here! – order directly from the Amazon’s online megastore simply by telling Alexa what it is you want.

And Amazon is busy expanding the Echo’s capabilities to enable it to become the heart of modern “smart” households.

In order to remain one step ahead of the competition, Amazon plans to establish two research and development centers in Israel, one in Tel Aviv and the other in Haifa. That will result in around 100...