What the Tech? Amazon announces new features for Alexa
By JAMIE TUCKER Consumer Technology Reporter
By now, you may have an Amazon Echo device in your home. You may even have 2, 3, or 6.
They’ve become as common as area rugs and throw pillows. Amazon announced this week it had sold over a half-billion devices since they were introduced in 2014. Yes, Alexa is a nine-year-old.
Amazon announced new Echo devices this week along with some new features for all Alexa devices.
These include:
● More intuitive answers
● More conversational
● More human-like voice
● Able to control multiple smart home devices at once or with one command.
● Capable of calling emergency services (with a subscription)
● Uses AI similar to Chat GPT that allows Alexa to write songs and poems
In a promotional video released by Amazon, a select few users are seen interacting with the new Alexa features and it looks very much like having conversations with a roommate. Alexa’s voice is software without as many hints that it’s a computer-generated voice.
Amazon says it will be rolling out the new Echo/Alexa features over the next few months. New Echo devices were also introduced Wednesday and will be available later this fall and next spring.
