Amazon buys Fauna Robotics to add social robots to its consumer tech lineup.

Amazon has acquired New York startup Fauna Robotics, the maker of the small, 1.5-foot-tall Sprout humanoid robot. Designed for social interaction rather than heavy labor, Sprout can perform simple tasks like dancing and picking up toys. The acquisition marks Amazon's latest move into consumer-facing robotics, complementing its warehouse operations and AI assistant Alexa.