Privacy is becoming obsolete, but not everyone thinks you should fear its demise
Privacy often seems to be at odds with government surveillance and smart assistant technologies like Siri and Cortana. But do we need to sacrifice one for the other? We asked experts in a variety of fields to find out what a future without privacy might look like and whether that's really such a bad thing.
Nvidia’s Shield TV gets Alexa support and Dolby Atmos for Amazon Prime Video
If you’re the owner of Nvidia’s Shield TV streaming media player and have been getting jealous as you see Alexa voice control coming to other devices, you’re in luck, as Nvidia announced that the device can now work with Amazon Echo devices to bring the power of Alexa to your entertainment experience.
August locks now have Alexa, Google Assistant Halloween tricks
This Halloween, there are sure to be a lot of unfamiliar and masked faced showing up at your door. When they arrive, you can be ready for them thanks to some new integrations for Alexa, Google Assistant and IFTTT in August's line of smart locks. This is no Halloween trick, but it is a treat.
This little girl really, really wants Alexa to play ‘Baby Shark’
Sometimes we just can't get what we want. That was the case for one poor little girl who just couldn't get Alexa to understand her request to play the undeniably catchy but undoubtedly annoying song 'Baby Shark.' She finally gets her wish and the song plays thanks to a little help from her mom.
Amazon’s Fire TV Cube gets even more hands-off with enhanced voice control
Navigation menus with a remote is just plain old fashioned at this point, which is why you can now control almost anything with enhanced Alexa voice controls on the Amazon Fire TV Cube, including third-party apps like Netflix, Hulu, and ESPN, with support for even more apps coming in the future.
Silo A.I. vacuum storage system tells you when your leftovers are going bad
"Alexa, is the chicken still OK to eat?" Newly launched on Kickstarter, Silo is a neat vacuum storage container that promises to greatly extend the life of your food by up to five times. And for good measure, Alexa integration adds some impressive (and useful) A.I. smarts.
Softly spoken interactions with Alexa now possible with new Whisper Mode
From Thursday, October 18, Alexa's Whisper Mode started to roll out to U.S. owners of Amazon's digital assistant, though for now it only understands whispers in English. To make use of the new mode, you first need to turn it on. This can be done simply by saying, 'Alexa, turn on Whisper Mode.'
How to create a smart living room for under $250
Are you thinking about bringing your home out of the dark ages with some automation? Getting things started can be intimidating, but a smart home doesn’t have to be filled with crazy gadgets. It’s as simple as swapping out everyday products with devices that fulfill the same role, but are connected.
Cortana, meet Alexa: Buy an Xbox One from Amazon and get a free Echo Dot
If you buy an Xbox One S or Xbox One X bundle through Amazon right now, you'll also receive a free Echo Dot. The device features integration with Xbox One through the Alexa and Cortana assistants. You can even turn on your Xbox One by asking Alexa to do so. The offer is valid only while supplies last.
Patent shows Alexa may soon detect when you’re sick and suggest remedies
Amazon has patented a new feature that would allow Alexa to detect the signs of illness, such as a cough or a sore throat, and suggest solutions to help. The feature would also enable Alexa to offer to buy medicine for the user. These features follow a number of other medical-focused Alexa features.
Research finds the sound of chirping birds can be used to hack Alexa
Your voice assistant may not be as safe as you think it is. According to researchers in Germany, the Alexas, Siris, and Assistants of the world can be hacked with manipulated audio files that hide hidden commands. They may sound like birds chirping to a human, but A.I. assistants can hear secret messages.
Alexa could connect doctors with their patients through teleconferencing
A telehealth startup called MediSprout has partnered with Alexa to more easily connect patients with their doctors, schedule appointments, refill prescriptions, and ask general health questions. The service hopes to reduce the rate of no-show appointments and reduce health care costs.
Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant goes silent across Europe
We're used to having Amazon Alexa answer us when we ask it a question or to perform a task. Users in Europe yesterday were met with an unsettling silence every time they made a request of the voice assistant, as Alexa suffered a major service outage across much of the continent.
Alexa will soon be able to hear you whisper — and answer in kind
Amazon Alexa will soon be able to respond to whispers with a whispered answer. The development team has implemented a way for the system to recognize whispers and answer in turn, allowing users to use Alexa without waking others. The feature will be available starting in October.
Amazon’s partnership with SideChef makes Alexa your sous chef
As if Amazon's week hasn't been busy enough, the company announced this week that it's furthering its partnership with interactive cooking platform SideChef to integrate its cooking guidance into Echo devices, including voice guidance, photography, video demos, and voice commands.
Amazon’s horde of new Alexa-powered audio gear includes subwoofer, new amplifier
Amazon's quest to take over the world with its Alexa voice assistant just got a bit closer to realization, as the company unleashed an army of new devices at its live event today, including multiple new audio devices. We've got the low-down on all of the new products here.
Alexa can now tell you the odds of the next big football game
Alexa can now answer questions about your favorite NFL teams and players, such as what team is favored to win the upcoming game or what player has racked up the most distance over the course of their career. According to staff, this is just the start of Alexa's planned sports knowledge.
Amazon creates a bigger toy box with its new Alexa Gadgets Toolkit
Amazon is building a bigger toy box with the release of its new Alexa Gadgets Toolkit, a collection of self-service programs and gadget interfaces that facilitate direct pairing and connectivity, communication, and over-the-air updates between interactive devices and their paired Echo device.
It’s Echo season. Our guesses on what Amazon could unveil
Over the past two years, Amazon has announced new Echo hardware in September. We have no idea if it's planning a similar announcement this year, but if so, here are our best guesses for what it will come up with. This list is a combination of evidence-based guesses and our wish list.
Amazon Alexa may bite your head off if asked to play that darn ‘Baby Shark’ song
Voice assistants are designed to respond to any request humans give them, but it doesn't mean they like it. When Amazon's Alexa is asked to play the irritatingly catchy kid's song Baby Shark, the artificial intelligence issues an epic rant about how it doesn't like playing the tune.
Adobe survey finds digital assistants, smart speakers are popular with shoppers
A new survey of more than 1,000 American consumers about voice assistants and smart speakers offers dramatic new intelligence about shopping, adoption rates, types of usage, and a widening diversity of voice activities that reflect an expansion beyond music and weather.
Xbox-specific Alexa skills let you start console with your voice
Fans of the Xbox Kinect can potentially relive the benefits of the accessory. A set of new Alexa and Cortana skills allow players to control the Xbox One with their voice. Users can launch games, control the volume, and much more. These features are available now for Xbox Insiders in the United States.
Chances of your Amazon Alexa being hacked are slim, says former hacker
Events surrounding the Amazon Alexa have raised security concerns, but according to a former NSA hacker, given its built-in security, the smart speaker is an unlikely target for most hackers. They are much more likely to target your bank data than your conversations at home.
Netgear’s Alexa-enabled Orbi Voice Mesh Wi-Fi speaker blankets your home in Wi-Fi and sound
Netgear announced the Orbi Voice Smart Speaker and Wi-Fi Mesh Satellite, a multifunction device for smart homes that extends Wi-Fi networks, adds an Alexa-enabled voice assistant speaker, and uses Harman Kardon audio for higher-quality music streaming. Netgear packaged the three functions based on consumer interest.
It’s no joke: Alexa is now installed on more than 20,000 devices worldwide
Amazon's Alexa voice assistant is one of the most popular digital assistants on the market and IFA Berlin served as a prime opportunity for the company to showcase that growth. The software is now available on more than 20,000 devices, with more expected to hit the market soon.
Temi is your personal robot butler, like an Amazon Echo Show on wheels
If you’ve been dreaming of a domestic robot or a smart speaker that can follow you around the house, then Temi could be just what you’re looking for. We went hands-on with the personal robot at IFA 2018 in Berlin to find out exactly what it’s capable of doing and how well it can get it done.
Figure out whose turn it is to do the dishes with new Alexa skills
Amazon Alexa has more than 40,000 skills, but more skills are added every day. Users can create custom skills through blueprints. Alexa recently added even more blueprints to bring the total number above 30. These new blueprints make it easy to track chores, choose activities, and much more.
There is nothing even slightly cube-like about the Huawei AI Cube smart speaker
Huawei has announced a smart speaker. It's called the AI Cube, but confusingly, it isn't shaped like a cube at all. It doesn't use Google Assistant either, and instead has Amazon Alexa inside, along with space for a 4G LTE SIM card. It's not the first time Huawei has used Alexa in a smart device.
IFA 2018: 8K TV, AI everything, and more trends we expect to see
Europe's biggest technology show is starting, and this is a year you will not want to miss. We've rounded up the trends and secrets you need to know ahead of IFA's official launch later this week. From 8K TVs to robot wearables, we've got it all right here.
Alexa will avoid tough questions with new, kid-friendly responses
Amazon has added a number of new, kid-friendly responses to its voice assistant tool Alexa. The A.I. tool used in the company's smart speakers will now avoid any unsavory questions, play songs with censored lyrics, and doesn't ruin the existence of Santa Claus.
Alexa can play smart home camera video recaps on Echo, Fire devices
Now you ask Alexa to show the last recorded video from smart home security cameras on Echo Show, Echo Spot, Fire TV, and Fire Tablets. Amazon Alexa's Skill development group just added the Cameras Recap API to the Smart Home Skill API. Video replay is enabled for Ring, August, Arlo, Cloud Cam, and Logitech cameras.
White-hat Chinese hackers turn Alexa into a spy, briefly
It's a hack that's more akin to boosting a car than cracking a code but researchers at Chinese firm Tencent Holdings were able to use a modified Echo to crack the security and recording functions of other Amazon Echos running on the same network. Amazon has already released a fix.
Alexa will soon speak the language of love as she debuts in France
Amazon sought common ground with the French in June with a redesigned version of Alexa and its Echo smart speaker series featuring a new French voice, a help function designed in French, local knowledge and hundreds of localized skills. Amazon told developers Alexa will be in Mexico later this year.
Amazon turns Whole Foods into a drive-through with new curbside pickup service
Starting in Sacramento, California and Virginia Beach, Virginia, with more cities to come throughout 2018, Amazon is launching a new Amazon Prime perk that allows members to pick up groceries from Whole Foods Market in as little as 30 minutes without ever leaving their cars.