Amazon, in a bid to stay ahead in the AI race, has unveiled an array of new gadgets and an updated version of its widely-used voice assistant, Alexa.
Amazon, in a bid to stay ahead in the AI race, has unveiled an array of new gadgets and an updated version of its widely-used voice assistant, Alexa. The latest iteration is infused with more advanced generative AI features, positioning it to better compete with other tech companies that have recently introduced innovative chatbot technologies.
During a live demonstration at the company’s second headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, Amazon’s devices chief, Dave Limp, announced that the enhanced language model will enable consumers to engage in more human-like conversations with a “smarter and more conversational” Alexa.
The presentation included various interactions showcased through a pre-recorded video and a live demo. In these demonstrations, Alexa seamlessly responded to prompts to compose a poem, suggest ideas for a date night, and provide a detailed analysis of a football game.
Limp also showcased a feature where the voice assistant can compose a text message, although there were moments of slight hesitation during the interaction, requiring some prompts to be repeated before receiving a response.
Amazon is also in the process of developing a “speech-to-speech” model, aiming to imbue Alexa with human-like attributes, such as laughter and affirmations like “uh-huh” during conversations.
The annual gadget event serves as a platform for Amazon to present new devices to journalists and industry experts before their official release. In addition to the Alexa updates, the tech giant introduced a subscription-based emergency service for Alexa, enabling users to request assistance without using a phone. They also showcased new Echo smart speakers and Amazon Fire tablets tailored for children.
In August, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy announced the upcoming retirement of Dave Limp, who has been with the company for nearly 14 years, overseeing innovations in Kindle readers, Amazon’s Fire TV, and Echo devices. While the devices unit has introduced numerous gadgets over the years, not all have gained widespread popularity, such as the Alexa-enabled microwave or the Astro robot unveiled in 2021.
Amazon holds a leading position in the U.S. smart speaker market, with nearly 64 million monthly users of its Echo devices. However, market research firm Insider Intelligence anticipates a slight decline in their market share over the next few years due to the continued growth in smart speaker offerings. Consumers are also increasingly using their smartphones to access voice assistants instead of relying solely on smart speakers.
While Amazon has long sought to drive consumer purchases through its Echo devices, this aspiration has yet to be fully realized. Last year, the company reported that 50% of Alexa customers used their device for shopping.
Limp emphasized on Wednesday that an increasing number of customers have been using Alexa for shopping year after year, according to Adobe Analytics. In typical usage, consumers employ their smart speakers for tasks like playing music, checking the weather, and setting alarms and reminders.
Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence that can create new content, such as text, images, and music. It is trained on large amounts of data and learns to identify patterns and relationships. Once trained, it can use this knowledge to generate new content that is similar to the data it was trained on.