Amazon’s voice assistant Alexa is set for a major overhaul with a new artificial intelligence (AI) upgrade, expected to debut on February 26. The upgrade, which will showcase generative AI capabilities, could revolutionize how users interact with smart home devices.
Panos Panay, lead of Amazon’s Devices and Services team, will unveil the latest innovations from the Alexa team at an event in New York. This marks a significant shift for Alexa, which currently processes one command at a time, unlike companies like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic that offer more sophisticated AI assistants.
The generative AI upgrade could enable Alexa to engage in natural conversations and complete complex tasks. If announced, this would be the most substantial evolution since Alexa’s debut in 2014. The update is expected to highlight new features and might introduce a paid tier with advanced capabilities, priced between $5 and $10 per month.
As Amazon prepares for its AI upgrade, Apple is rumored to launch a Siri-powered display that controls smart home devices. Expected to launch in March, the device will compete aggressively in the smart home market, where Google and Amazon have historically led the way.
Source: https://www.cnet.com/home/smart-home/amazons-alexa-is-getting-a-major-ai-upgrade-heres-what-we-know