Siri hasn’t yet gotten the big AI upgrades we’re expecting soon, but it sounds like Alexa’s recent AI revamp is already resulting in at least one user running back to the arms of “old” (current) Siri.
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Alexa+ is Amazon’s new AI-infused version of its popular assistant. Following a slow initial rollout, Amazon has just made Alexa+ available to all users in the US. Here’s how to upgrade to Alexa+, or skip it for now.
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One of the big promises of Apple Intelligence is the ability to interact with our apps. Instead of the relatively simple requests we can currently make of Apple Music, for example, we should be able to give the app a vibe-like steer on what we’d like it to play and let it figure out which tracks match our spec.
That’s a capability Amazon has just made available in the iOS and Android versions of its own music app by introducing support for its own next-generation intelligent assistant, Alexa+ …
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A major Amazon Web Services outage resulted in many different platforms and services being taken down for many users in the US. This includes Amazon, Alexa, Snapchat, Fortnite, ChatGPT, and more.
The problem first occurred shortly after midnight PDT. The company identified the cause a couple of hours later and says that it is now “continuing to observe recovery” across most services …
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Amazon has finally started rolling out Alexa+, its oft-delayed overhaul of the Alexa voice assistant built on large language model technology. However, Alexa+ shows how difficult it is to replace a mature voice assistant with generative AI, especially when users expect instant, consistent results for simple tasks. It’s a real reality check on the notion that Amazon has managed to release something Apple promised and hasn’t shipped.
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Apple has gotten a lot of flack for talking up Apple Intelligence while delivering very little of it, and now it seems Amazon is about to do the exact same thing.
A new report citing internal company documents suggests that Alexa+, Amazon’s equivalent of the new Siri, will also launch without many of its headline features …
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A new conversational Alexa is expected to be revealed at an Amazon media event on February 26, with press invitations sent out yesterday.
A report citing Amazon insiders says that the all-new Alexa will be powered by generative AI, dramatically boosting its capabilities and putting even more pressure on Apple to launch a smarter Siri …
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The Amazon Alexa app isn’t just for configuring Echo speakers and managing service integrations. It’s also a smart home controller akin to Apple’s Home app. Amazon is putting that front and center with the redesigned Alexa app launching today. There’s also a new smart home mapping feature that’s exclusive to iOS devices.
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Amazon has debuted an overhauled version of its Alexa mobile app for iPhone, bringing a new focus on personalization and native Amazon Alexa features. As reported by TechCrunch, the redesigned Alexa app removes the emphasis on third-party skills, instead focusing “on how consumers are actually using Alexa.”
Amazon has announced that it’s launching a preview of a new feature coming to Alexa: the ability to launch and control iOS and Android apps. This functionality comes as Amazon is working on boosting adoption of its voice assistant beyond its popular smart speakers.
Microsoft contractors are still listening to some requests made to its Cortana intelligent assistant, as well as some Skype calls.
The revelation follows decisions by Apple, Google, and Facebook to suspend their human review processes for now, and Amazon giving Alexa users the ability to opt-out…
Amazon is following the precedent set by Apple and is giving users the ability to opt-out of having their Alexa voice recordings reviewed by humans. Bloomberg reports that the new policy took effect yesterday.
Apple Music subscribers can now control music playback on Sonos speakers using voice control through Amazon Alexa. The feature works in the US and UK on the Sonos One and Sonos Beam smart speakers, joining Amazon Echo speakers, based on the Apple Music skill in the Alexa app.
Update: Lutron has added that while HomeKit support won’t be available at launch, it does plan to add support in the future.
As part of CES 2019, Lutron has officially unveiled its new fan speed controller, a smart wall switch that replaces your basic on/off switch and works with existing ceiling fans. Fan speed controller adds smart home control that gives you remote access from Lutron’s iOS app and support for scheduling actions and automation.
At CES 2019, some nice updates have been announced for the smart shower system, U by Moen. The WiFi shower system is gaining improved Alexa functionality including support for Routines. The company has also promised HomeKit functionality to be landing sometime this quarter as well.
Pick up a new Amazon Echo recently or just feel like you haven’t mastered Alexa yet? Alexa has a number of useful features on Amazon Echo smart speakers and displays that you may not have discovered yet. These are 10 of my favorite Alexa features that work with Amazon Echo:
Amazon’s quirky new Echo Wall Clock has arrived. While it’s primarily just a $29 analog wall clock, there’s something charming about its analog and digital balance. Echo Wall Clock doesn’t have Alexa built-in. You need a nearby Echo speaker with Alexa to use it, then it becomes a smart analog clock with a few fun and useful features despite small build quality concerns.
Apple certainly hasn’t gone out of its way to promote the new Apple Music integration with Amazon Echo speakers. Aside from a new support doc, Apple left promotional duties to Amazon including the initial announcement.
The App Store is promoting the Alexa app today, however, marking the closest thing to an announcement since we learned Apple Music was landing on Echo speakers.
Amazon today has rolled out a major update to its Alexa-enabled devices. Starting today, Alexa users can now access new features including location-based routines and reminders, timer enhancements, app notifications, email support, and more. These features were originally announced back in September, but are now making their way to users.
First Alert is launching a new version of its entry-level smart smoke and carbon monoxide alarm with both Apple HomeKit and Amazon Echo connected home support. The new Onelink Smart Smoke + Carbon Monoxide Alarm retails for about half the price of the more feature-packed Safe & Sound, and customers still benefit from Siri and Home app support on Apple platforms.
First Alert’s Onelink Safe & Sound smoke alarm was originally unveiled earlier this year, integrating both HomeKit support as well as Alexa. Today, First Alert is rolling out an update to the device that adds some useful Alexa enhancements, but those hoping for AirPlay 2 support will have to continue waiting.
In conjunction with iCloud issues throughout the day, Amazon’s Alexa is also experiencing intermittent outages for users. As noted by numerous users on Twitter, the Alexa outage has been plaguing the voice assistant over the course of the entire day.
Amazon is rolling out a new Alexa feature for Echo speakers that intelligently reduces the voice assistant’s volume when you whisper a command. The new ‘whisper mode’ feature should prevent unexpectedly loud responses in quiet situations and instead use a gentler voice.