Alexa grudgingly picks the Patriots to win the Super Bowl
Alexa studied up on sports last year to provide users with stats and trivia. Now she has her own favorite pick for the Super Bowl, but it's not her favorite team. Alexa thinks the Patriots will win, but prefers the Rams. Given her statistical knowledge, it's better not to bet against Alexa.
Amazon confirms it has 10,000 employees working on Amazon Alexa
With more than 100 million Alexa devices sold so far, 10,000 Amazon employees work on the smart assistant's development. Thousands of people focus on building Alexa's knowledge base while others work on Alexa's personality, machine learning, interaction, conversational skills, and other technical features.
Amazon patents a technology to help Alexa fight fake voice attacks
Amazon's Alexa is ever-evolving and according to a new patent filed by Amazon, the company has developed a new technology that would help the digital assistant identify fake voice attacks, such as playing a pre-recorded command and help stop Alexa users from being spoofed.
Project Alias is a ‘smart parasite’ that stops smart speakers from listening
Two designers chose to do something about nosy smart speakers. The result is Project Alias, a "smart parasite" that whispers nonsense to Google Home and Alexa until it hears a specific wake word. While not a perfect solution, Project Alias is the first step toward a more private future.
This just in: Alexa can now deliver the news like a professional newscaster
The Amazon team has given Alexa a newscaster voice that improves the way she delivers the news and reads Wikipedia articles, making the smart assistant easier to understand. The change has been rolled out to U.S .customers. Simply ask Alexa, What's the latest? to hear the new voice.
Polk Audio’s Command Bar joins Alexa’s multiroom music party
Polk's Command Bar is a home theater soundbar with Alexa built in. But with a new update, it can also be grouped with Amazon's Echo products, and other third-party speakers, to produce a sophisticated multi-room, whole-home sound system, all of which can be controlled by your voice.
The Auri smart home lamp wants to improve your mood, has Alexa built in
If it feels like basically everything has Alexa built into it these days, well, you're right. The latest example is Auri, a smart home lamp that aims to meld concepts of wellness with modern technology to create a mood-improving lamp that just happens to have Alexa built right into it.
Leviton’s smart home line shines with Alexa-powered smart switch and lights
Your lights are about to get a lot smarter with the help of Leviton. The company is at CES 2019 and showing off a lot of new, connected lighting options including a dimmer switch that has Alexa built right into it and Wi-Fi connected outlets that make it easy to take control of your devices.
Temi the personal robot butler is now getting Alexa support
If you wish Alexa could follow you from room to room without requiring an Echo speaker to be hooked up wherever you are, well then your prayers have finally been answered. It was announced at CES 2019 that Temi, a personal robot butler that follows you around the house, now offers support for Alexa.
Talk to your car with conversational voice interface for in-car navigation
Now that everyone has gotten used to talking to Siri or Alexa, the next logical step is to enable a voice interface for cars. A new collaboration between connected car solution provider Telenav and Amazon Alexa aims to achieve seamless integration of navigation and voice assistant.
Forget about singing in the shower. U by Moen lets you converse with Alexa
You've probably done your fair share of singing in the shower, but imagine if you could talk to your shower and have it respond. At CES 2019, Moen brought out its U by Moen technology that allows you to control every part of your showering experience through Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri.
Alexa is everywhere: Kohler’s smart toilet brings voice assistant into bathrooms
Have you ever had a pressing question hit you while you're going about your business in the bathroom? Well, your toilet just might have an answer for you, assuming you have the Kohler Numi 2.0 Intelligent Toilet. The toilet with Alexa built right into will be on display at CES 2019.
Nobody asked for an Alexa-powered bicycle, but Cybic Legend built one anyway
Amazon Alexa goes mobile this summer as part of the new Cybic Legend smartbike. The bicycle comes equipped with the digital assistant, which can not only answer questions but will also provide updates on traffic and navigation via a 3G always-on cellular connection. The bike will be exclusive to the U.K. for now.
Fake Alexa setup app for iOS taken down but could still be dangerous
A fake iOS setup app for Amazon Alexa was taken down from the iTunes store, but not until many users downloaded it. If you downloaded One World Software's "Setup for Amazon Alexa," the best course of action is to delete it. The app didn't work but it collected IP addresses and device IDs.
‘Alexa, are you OK?’ Amazon’s smart assistant crashes on Christmas
It seems that it all got a bit too much for Alexa on Christmas Day. Amazon's digital assistant temporarily stopped working for a number of users across Europe on December 25, possibly overwhelmed by the sudden uptick in new users playing with their Alexa-powered Echo speaker.
How Alexa and Google Home can lend a hand over the holidays
Smart speakers with voice assistants, such as Alexa and Google Home, can be especially helpful during the holiday with these tips and tricks. From setting timers to shopping for deals to playing your favorite festive music and movies, let your Alexa or Google Home device give you a helping hand in life.
Amazon sends a user someone else’s Alexa recordings by mistake
When you have a voice assistant, you have to know that it's listening at all times. However, the expectation is that it's only listening to you. One Amazon Echo user in Germany was accidentally given more than 1,700 recordings from someone else, sparking concerns about privacy.
Looking to buy an Echo device for Christmas? Many are now out of stock
Amazon Echo devices are some of the hottest gifts of this holiday season. In fact, they're so hot that they're actually becoming hard to find. After Amazon slashed the prices during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the voice assistant speakers have been out of stock ahead of the year's biggest holidays.
Apple Music could be headed to third-party Alexa devices ‘soon’
Fans of both Apple Music and Alexa were treated to a new integration this week that brings the music service to Echo devices. But Apple Music could be making an appearance on all other third-party Alexa smart speakers, as revealed by an Amazon representative. Could this be the beginning of streaming music nirvana?
These are the best Amazon Echo and Google Home deals just in time for Christmas
Smart home and smart speaker inventories at major retailers are dwindling. If you're searching for smart home gifts for delivery before Christmas, don't delay or you may miss out. We found the best deals on Amazon and Walmart for Amazon Alexa and Google Home products still in stock for fast delivery.
4 reasons you should buy the Amazon Echo Input
Do you have an older, great-sounding speaker that you want to add the Alexa voice assistant to? Amazon has got you covered with the Echo Input, a small, puck-like device that connects to non-smart speakers via Bluetooth or auxiliary. Here are four reasons to buy the device.
Rocco wants to rock out. Parrot learns to use owner’s Amazon Alexa
Rocco the African Grey fell in love with his owner's Alexa unit and has ordered himself treats and other goodies, but mostly uses the smart assistant to rock out to his favorite music. Imagine if your pets could order their own treats and snacks. Pet ownership would become much more expensive.
Alexa’s latest skill helps patients manage high blood pressure
Amazon is working with medical device manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies to develop Alexa skills that will enable patients to better manage their own health. The latest is a partnership with Omron Healthcare to connect Alexa's voice-enabled technology to the company's blood pressure monitoring devices.
One crafty ‘Fortnite’ player figured how to make Alexa his in-game guide
How far would you go to create a more immersive gaming experience? Reddit user u/jamielliottg answers that question by combining Fortnite with smart home technology to create better gaming session with a fan, smart light, and a bit of encouragement from Alexa.
Video shows ‘Alexa in space’ aboard the International Space Station
Back in June an A.I. robot called CIMON was sent to the International Space Station (ISS) to act as a voice-powered assistant to the astronauts there. Now the European Space Agency has released a video showing CIMON interacting with the ISS crew for the first time, albeit rather awkwardly.
You can soon have Alexa tell your Big Mouth Billy Bass to start singing
The Big Mouth Billy Bass was an odd, cultural phenomenon from 1999 to the early 2000s. Now, an Alexa-enabled version is up for preorder from Amazon for just $40. It will make the perfect Christmas gift for the kitsch lover in your life, and might be just the key to converting older parents to smart homes.
Soon, any wireless headphone maker can put Alexa in your ears
Amazon's popular Alexa voice assistant will be coming to many more Bluetooth headphones as the Internet retailer has opened up its Alexa Mobile Accessory Tool Kit to all headphone developers. This means that changing songs, picking playlists, and other listening tasks will be easier than ever.
Smart speakers used primarily for music and information — and shopping
A survey of Alexa and Google Home users shows most people use their devices for core functions and had issues discovering third-party apps. Despite this, users are generally very satisfied with their devices and would recommend them to others. A significant number of people use their device for shopping.
These Alexa-stuffed retro phones don’t listen until you take them off the hook
Looking for an Amazon Echo with a cool vintage touch? Los Angeles-based Grain Design is taking old, non-working antique phones and transforming them into Alexa smart speakers. Here's what makes them special, and how you can get your hands on one before the holiday season.
Ecobee announces Black Friday deals on smart thermostats and smart switches
Ecobee's 2018 Black Friday deals are live. The smart home device maker announced three deals, all effective immediately. Ecobee's smart thermostats and smart wall switch are compatible with smart home voice assistant systems including Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, and Samsung SmartThings.
Amazon has a huge team dedicated to enhancing Alexa and Echo
An Amazon executive on Tuesday, November 13 revealed the huge size of the team tasked with developing the Echo, its smart speaker, and Alexa, the digital assistant that powers it. With the holiday shopping season approaching, Amazon's smart speaker goes up against similar offerings from Google and Apple.
Say goodbye to Cortana: An Alexa app is available on all Windows 10 PCs
Some newer Windows 10 laptops recently arrived at the hands of consumers with an Amazon Alexa integration on board, but now anyone is free to enjoy the same experience on a regular Windows PC. Amazon revealed today that its Alexa app is now available as a download on all Windows 10 PCs running the April 2018 Update.
How’s your Spanish, Alexa? Some Amazon Echo devices pick up a new language
Amazon's Alexa voice assistant and Echo devices are now available for customers in Mexico. Alexa has been customized for the Mexican market with local knowledge, a new voice, and support for the Mexican version of Spanish. Third-party developers also launched devices with Alexa built in for Mexican customers.
Alexa, where do I vote? Who’s running? Amazon assistant provides voter help
Midterms are coming, and Alexa is ready. She can tell you where to vote, who's running, and -- on election night -- who's winning. She can even help explain ballot measures, provide post-election analysis, and -- on Echo Show -- visual aids. But don't worry, she won't try to tell you how to vote.