Amazon this morning showed a new feature, dubbed “Let’s Chat” driven by generative artificial intelligence, designed to make its Alexa voice assistant more conversational on its Echo devices.
Demonstrated on stage during an event at Amazon’s HQ2 in Arlington, Va., the feature opens a dedicated session that allows users to converse with Alexa without repeatedly invoking a wake word.
Alexa maintains the context of the conversation over time, until the user ends the session, and takes into account preferences such as favorite sports team.
Dave Limp, the outgoing leader of the company’s Devices and Services division, said the feature, based on the company’s latest generative AI model, will be available as preview to customers on existing devices.
The rise of text-based generative artificial intelligence tools, including OpenAI’s ChatGPT, have illustrated the need for Alexa to significantly improve its conversational abilities, but in the context of voice conversations in the home.
Amazon also previewed a more natural-sounding Alexa voice, with inflections more tuned to the specific messages it delivers, in a demo by Rohit Prasad, senior vice president and head scientist of Amazon Artificial General Intelligence.
Other announcements included:
- A new wall-mounted Alexa smart home control device called Echo Hub with an 8-inch touchscreen, providing a dashboard for device control, selling for $179.99 later this year.
- A new smartphone feature called Map View, giving customers an overview of their Alexa devices on a diagram of their home.
- Fire TV Soundbar, a new product from the company, for $119.99, shipping next week.
- Alexa Emergency Assist, a voice-enabled personal and family safety service, will be $5.99 a month or $59 a year.
- A new Echo Show 8 with an upgraded design, camera and audio enhancements, available next month for $149.99.
- There’s also a “Photos Edition” of the Echo Show 8 for $159.99, which works in conjunction with a $1.99 per month PhotosPlus subscription (after six-month free trial with device) for new photo features.
- A feature called Eye Gaze for the Fire Max 11 tablet for people with mobility or speech disabilities to use Alexa with their eyes.
See updates from Amazon in its live blog from the event.
Developing story, more to come.
