Amazon Ends Home Fertility Tracker Project

Amazon has officially terminated its secret project, codenamed 'Encore,' aimed at developing a home-based fertility tracker, which had been in development for four years. The decision, communicated to the team last month, follows CEO Andy Jassy's broader cost-cutting strategy that has led to over 27,000 job cuts and the discontinuation of numerous projects since late 2022. The fertility tracker project stemmed from Amazon's acquisition of bluDiagnostics in 2020 and faced technical challenges and high costs that delayed its launch. Employees involved will remain on payroll until December 27, after which they will receive severance if not reassigned. This shift marks a departure from the innovative approach of former CEO Jeff Bezos, who favored experimental projects under the Grand Challenge initiative. Jassy's focus on efficiency contrasts sharply with Bezos's legacy of risk-taking and long-term investment in new ideas.