Did Amazon reveal its HQ2 location during a Super Bowl commercial?
On Sunday night, Amazon ran an ad where people use Amazons Alexa service, only famous celebrities -- like Anthony Hawkins and Cardi B -- replace Alexas voice. - photo by Herb Scribner
Internet theorists believe theyve figured out the site of Amazons second headquarters based on the companys Super Bowl ad.
On Sunday night, Amazon ran a commercial that depicts people using Amazons Alexa service. However, celebrities such as Anthony Hawkins and Cardi B replace Alexas voice.
Internet users noticed the beginning of the ad may hold a clue about Amazons next headquarters location.
Amazon announced back in September that it plans to open a second headquarters somewhere in the U.S. The company asked cities and states to send in proposals. Utah submitted one. In January, Amazon released a shortlist of cities, but no Utah cities made the list.
That brings us to now. The internet ran rampant with speculation when, during the company's Super Bowl commercial, a woman asked Alexa for the weather in Austin, Texas.
What a coincidence then that Austin is one of the final 20 cities in North America vying for Amazon's second headquarters and the 50,000 jobs and $5 billion in investment that is slated to go with it, according to USA Today.
The internet speculated that Austin may be Amazons second headquarters.
This theory has no credible evidence backing it, but the internet is having fun with it.
Meanwhile, experts have labeled Atlanta as the front-runner for Amazons HQ2, according to the Deseret News. Demographic expert Bert Sperling told Mashable that Atlanta is an affordable big city on the East Coast that will match Amazons interests because of its growing business sector and affordability.
Daniel Ives, head of technology research at GBH Insights, similarly praised Atlanta, ranking it ahead of Raleigh, North Carolina; Washington, D.C.; Boston and, yes, Austin.
"We're big believers that a big East Coast presence is something that Bezos has been looking to get and the second HQ gets him there," Ives said, according to CNBC.
Still, CNN expects New York and Washington, D.C., to be the front-runners. And a New York Times article suggested Denver as the best option for Amazon.