Amazon has reacted to the growing competition from the likes OpenAI’c ChatGPT and Google Bard, by updating its Alexa voice assistant with generative artificial intelligence capabilities.
At the company’s annual product launch in Arlington, Virginia, Amazon showed off updates to Alexa, which should signal an end to Alexa’s usual robotic tone for the past decade, and allow for more natural sounding conversations. It should also allow for hands free emergency calling (for a monthly fee).
Amazon at the event also revealed updates to the Echo Frames eyeglasses (with Alexa embedded for when a person is outside the home), refreshed versions of its Blink outdoor security cameras; Eero Wi-Fi 7 mesh extenders; refreshed versions of children’s Fire tablets; a soundbar for televisions; and new search capabilities on the FireTV service, to name but a few.
Amazon also unveiled a new smart home controller, namely a $180 Echo Hub wall-mounted touchscreen for controlling gadgets throughout the home.
Perhaps the most noteworthy announcement was Amazon adding generative artificial intelligence capabilities to its Alexa voice assistant.
“Today, we shared a preview of an even smarter, and more conversational Alexa, powered by generative AI,” said Amazon. “It’s based on a new large language model that’s been custom-built and specifically optimised for voice interactions, and the things we know our customers love – getting real-time information, efficient smart home control, and maximizing their home entertainment.”
Amazon said customers in the US will soon be able to preview some of the capabilities enabled by generative AI by saying, “Alexa, let’s chat” to Echo devices they already own.
Amazon said Alexa “will feel more natural and conversational than ever before, and Alexa’s ability to reason, infer customer intent, and understand complex requests will remarkably improve.”
Amazon did provide a full list of updates coming to Alexa, but cited some following examples:
Amazon also updated its wearable device, Echo Frames, which are smart glasses that let the user take Alexa on the go.
The all-new Echo Frames and Carrera Smart Glasses collection combines high-end fashion with Alexa technology.
There are seven stylish options, and they all come with multiple lens options, including sunglass lenses, prescription-ready, or blue light lenses.
They also come with up to six hours of continuous media playback or talk time, or up to 14 hours of moderate usage on a full battery charge.
Amazon also showed off a sleeker Echo Show 8, as well as a new photo sharing feature that will allow users to share photos with family and friends across any Fire TV or Echo Show device.
But to control a smart home, Amazon has introduced the Echo Hub, which is a wall-mountable smart home control panel powered by Alexa. It comes with an eight-inch touch screen and customisable dashboard for all a person’s smart home devices.
People can use it arm their security system, start a Routine, turn on the fan, or change the volume on an Echo device.
A person can also view multiple live camera feeds at the same time.
Echo Hub will be available later this year for $179.99.
Amazon is also offering Map View, which is a new way to manage a smart home, from a phone, as it creates a digital map of a home’s floor plan and pin connected devices to it.
Meanwhile Amazon also unveiled eero Max 7, which is it’s first Wi-Fi 7 mesh system, that capable of 10 Gigabit Ethernet. It will be available soon in one, two-, and three-packs starting at $599.99.
Amazon also updated its Blink and Ring home security product as well.
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