Tag: Alexa

  • Amazon Launches Alexa+ on the Web at Alexa.com

    Amazon Launches Alexa+ on the Web at Alexa.com

    Key Takeaways

    1. Amazon has launched Alexa.com, a web-based platform for its Alexa+ AI assistant, allowing users to interact with Alexa through a browser.

    2. Access to Alexa.com is currently limited to US users with an Amazon account, an Alexa+ subscription, and at least one compatible device.

    3. The platform features a chat-style interface that maintains conversation context across devices, enabling seamless transitions between Alexa.com, Echo speakers, and the Alexa mobile app.

    4. Alexa.com integrates with the Amazon ecosystem, allowing users to upload documents, create shopping lists, and connect with grocery delivery services, though some features are still being rolled out.

    5. Alexa+ enhances traditional Alexa capabilities with more conversational interactions and agentic tasks, and is available for $19.99 per month, free for US Prime members.

    Amazon is expanding Alexa’s reach beyond just Echo speakers and Fire TVs. The company has discreetly introduced Alexa.com, a web-based platform for its new Alexa+ AI assistant. This allows users with Early Access to communicate with Alexa through a web browser, similar to how they would use ChatGPT or Google Gemini.

    Access Requirements

    Currently, Alexa.com is part of the Alexa+ Early Access initiative. To utilize this feature, you must have an Amazon account based in the US, access to Alexa+, and at least one compatible device. This includes items like the Amazon Echo Studio, Fire TV, or Fire tablet that are linked to your account. It’s important to note that child profiles are not yet available on the web, and Amazon is limiting access to users in the United States at this time.

    Features and Integration

    Amazon claims that Alexa.com offers the “full power of Alexa+” in a browser setting. The website features a user-friendly chat-style interface where you can:

    Notably, Alexa+ on the web is meant to maintain context across your devices. If you start a conversation on Alexa.com, you can continue it later on an Echo speaker, Fire TV, or through the Alexa mobile app, with the assistant remembering your previous discussions.

    The web application also connects with the broader Amazon ecosystem. Reports indicate that it supports uploading documents and images for Alexa+ to analyze, turning recipes into shopping lists, and connecting with services like Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods for meal planning and grocery delivery. However, some of these features are still being rolled out.

    Limitations and Future Updates

    Alexa.com is still categorized as an Early Access experience and has several limitations worth noting:

    Amazon promises that additional features will be added in the future, presenting the web app as a supplement to Echo devices rather than a complete substitute.

    Alexa+ represents Amazon’s generative AI upgrade to the traditional Alexa assistant. It enables more conversational and multi-step interactions, allowing for “agentic” tasks such as booking services or managing follow-up actions for you. The service is priced at US$19.99 per month, but it comes at no extra charge for US Prime members, according to earlier announcements from Amazon regarding Alexa+.

    With Alexa.com, Amazon is clearly aiming to position Alexa+ as a rival to browser-based AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Google Gemini, capitalizing on its existing user base of over half a billion Alexa-enabled devices. Users can now seamlessly switch between voice on Echo, touch on Fire TV, and keyboard-and-mouse in a browser, all connected to the same assistant and account.

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  • Samsung Music Studio 5 & 7 Support Alexa+ and Smarter Bixby

    Samsung Music Studio 5 & 7 Support Alexa+ and Smarter Bixby

    Key Takeaways

    1. Smart Assistant Compatibility: Both Music Studio 5 and Music Studio 7 are compatible with Alexa+, Bixby, and Google Gemini, enhancing user interaction.

    2. Advanced Features of Alexa+ and Bixby: Alexa+ offers a more conversational experience powered by generative AI, while Bixby will receive upgrades and connect to various services.

    3. User-Friendly Design: Both speakers have a top button for easy access to favorite streaming services like Amazon Music, Spotify, and YouTube Music.

    4. Hi-Res Audio for Audiophiles: Spotify Premium users can enjoy high-resolution audio streaming up to 24-bit/44.1kHz using FLAC files.

    5. Versatile Connectivity Options: The speakers support AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Google Cast, and Bluetooth, with the Music Studio 7 also supporting Samsung Seamless Codec for Galaxy phones.

    We recently talked about Samsung’s new wireless speakers, the Music Studio 5 and Music Studio 7, but we didn’t dive into the smart and connectivity features since Samsung hadn’t shared this info yet. Now, thanks to PCWorld, we have the details. Both speakers will be compatible with Alexa+, Samsung’s Bixby, and Google Gemini.

    Smart Features Explained

    Alexa+ is Amazon’s enhanced AI assistant that feels more like a real conversation. It’s powered by generative AI, which means it can do things for you, making it feel more interactive. Meanwhile, Bixby is also set to receive a significant upgrade, including large language models and connections with services such as Perplexity, The Weather Channel, and Uber.

    User-Friendly Design

    The design of the hardware is quite intuitive. The Music Studio 5 and Music Studio 7 both feature a button on top that lets you easily play your favorite tracks from streaming platforms like Amazon Music, Spotify, and YouTube Music with just a single tap. For audiophiles, there’s good news: Spotify Premium users can enjoy Hi-Res Audio streaming using FLAC files at a high resolution of up to 24-bit/44.1kHz.

    Connectivity Options

    These new wireless speakers are versatile, supporting AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Google Cast, and Bluetooth. The Music Studio 7 even offers support for the Samsung Seamless Codec when playing music from a Galaxy phone. As for pricing, we anticipate that the Music Studio 5 will retail for $249, while the Music Studio 7 is expected to be priced at $499 when they launch later this year.

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  • Home Assistant 2025.6 Introduces New Bluetooth Connection Graph

    Home Assistant 2025.6 Introduces New Bluetooth Connection Graph

    Key Takeaways

    1. Home Assistant 2025.6 features an improved entity picker with enhanced search functionality for various categories and devices.
    2. The Bluetooth integration has been upgraded with a new connection graph for better visualization of Bluetooth devices.
    3. The experimental Areas dashboard has new features, including an Actions section and updated entities like counters and timers.
    4. New integrations include support for Alexa devices (Fire TVs and Echo Pop) and updates for Homee and Samsung SmartThings.
    5. The release was slightly delayed, but the next version, 2025.7, is expected to be available on July 2nd.

    Home Assistant 2025.6 has been officially unveiled. This new version of the free smart home automation software comes on the heels of a May update that introduced a revamped backup system and new options for text-to-speech voices.

    Enhancements and Features

    According to a recent blog post, Home Assistant 2025.6 includes several enhancements. The new entity picker, introduced in Home Assistant 2025.5, has been improved. Just as a reminder, pickers are the dropdown menus used for selecting entities, devices, and more. The search functionality has been fine-tuned and is now available for area, category, floor, label, user, and device pickers. Furthermore, the Bluetooth integration has seen upgrades with a new Bluetooth connection graph, which lets users clearly visualize how Bluetooth devices connect to their Home Assistant setup.

    Updates to Dashboard and Integrations

    Additionally, there’s a new version of the experimental Areas dashboard, which was launched with Home Assistant 2025.4. New features include an Actions section and, in the Others section, there are new number entities, button entities, counters, and timer helpers. Moreover, the “Entertainment” section has been renamed to “Media players.” There are also new integrations for Alexa devices, including Fire TVs and the Echo Pop (currently priced at $24.99 on Amazon), along with Probe Plus meat thermometers. The Homee integration has added support for fans and alarm control panels, while the Samsung SmartThings integration now works with hobs, water heaters, and temperature sensors for freezers.

    Release Notes and Future Updates

    You can check out the full release notes for Home Assistant 2025.6 on the company’s website. The Home Assistant team has mentioned that, although the June release was a week later than anticipated, they expect the 2025.7 version to be available on July 2nd.

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    Home Assistant 2025.6 Introduces New Bluetooth Connection GraphHome Assistant 2025.6 Introduces New Bluetooth Connection Graph

     

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  • New AI Partnership Between The New York Times and Amazon Announced

    New AI Partnership Between The New York Times and Amazon Announced

    Key Takeaways

    1. NYT and Amazon have a new licensing agreement allowing Amazon to use NYT content in its AI products like Alexa.
    2. The deal includes using NYT articles to train Amazon’s AI models and gathering data from NYT Cooking.
    3. NYT aims to enhance accessibility to its content for Amazon customers through this partnership.
    4. The agreement expands the existing relationship between NYT and Amazon, providing more value for customers.
    5. This deal follows NYT’s lawsuit against OpenAI for allegedly using its data without permission.

    The New York Times (NYT) and Amazon have revealed a new licensing agreement that will last for several years. This deal permits Amazon, the tech giant, to showcase brief summaries and excerpts from NYT’s articles and The Athletic within its AI products like Alexa.

    Agreement Details

    Furthermore, the arrangement allows Amazon to utilize articles from The New York Times to enhance the training of its AI models. In addition, Amazon plans to gather data from NYT Cooking, which is the publication’s recipe platform.

    In their official statement, NYT expressed, “This partnership will enhance the accessibility of The New York Times’s unique content for Amazon customers across various products and services, including direct links to Times offerings, and highlights the mutual dedication of both companies to provide global news and viewpoints through Amazon’s AI products.”

    Impact on Readers

    NYT noted that this agreement “expands the existing relationship between the two companies, adding more value for Amazon customers and extending Times journalism to a broader audience.”

    The publication has made it clear that the deal involves “the immediate display of summaries and short excerpts from Times content within Amazon’s products and services, like Alexa, in addition to training Amazon’s proprietary foundation models.”

    Context of the Deal

    This agreement is significant, especially considering that in December 2023, The New York Times filed a lawsuit against OpenAI. The lawsuit claimed that OpenAI unlawfully trained its AI models using data from the publication. It alleged that OpenAI’s use of this data gave rise to chatbots that competed “with the news outlet as a source of trustworthy information.”

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  • Amazon Launches Alexa+ with Generative AI for Prime Members Free

    Amazon Launches Alexa+ with Generative AI for Prime Members Free

    Key Takeaways

    1. Alexa+ is a new generative AI assistant compatible with over 600 million Alexa devices, capable of fluid conversations and autonomous task execution.

    2. It operates through specialized “experts” for managing smart home gadgets, making reservations, streaming music, ordering groceries, and monitoring home security.

    3. Alexa+ can autonomously browse the internet to find service providers and complete tasks without user involvement.

    4. The assistant personalizes suggestions based on user preferences and allows users to upload files for summarization, all while ensuring privacy through the Alexa Privacy dashboard.

    5. Alexa+ is priced at $19.99 per month, free for Prime members, with a gradual rollout starting for Echo Show owners and early access available at amazon.com/newalexa.

    Amazon has introduced Alexa+, a new generative AI helper that is compatible with more than 600 million current Alexa devices. This assistant engages in conversations in a fluid manner and can carry out tasks on its own.

    Functionality of Alexa+

    Alexa+ operates through “experts,” which are specialized systems designed to perform certain tasks. This allows Alexa+ to manage smart home gadgets, book reservations, stream music from various services, order groceries, and keep an eye on home security.

    Autonomous Navigation

    The assistant is capable of browsing the internet without needing user involvement to finish tasks. It can find service providers, make necessary arrangements, and report back to users autonomously.

    Personalized Suggestions

    Alexa+ gathers information about user preferences based on previous purchases and lets users input data like dietary limits or favorite recipes. This information is used to make tailored suggestions.

    The service is available on Echo devices, a new mobile application, and at Alexa.com. Conversations are seamlessly continued across devices while keeping context intact.

    Users have the option to upload files, emails, images, and messages for Alexa+ to summarize or utilize. Amazon has designed the system with privacy safeguards, and users can manage their settings through the Alexa Privacy dashboard.

    Pricing and Availability

    The subscription for Alexa+ is $19.99 per month, but Prime members can access it for free along with other benefits like delivery and entertainment services. The rollout in the US starts with early access for Echo Show owners, with a gradual expansion planned. Interested users can request early access at amazon.com/newalexa.

    In other updates, Amazon will be closing its Appstore for Android devices on August 20, 2025, and no new app submissions will be accepted. Following the closure, users will lose access, leaving Google Play as the main app store. However, the Appstore will still be available on Fire TV and Fire Tablets, where Amazon observes the highest level of user engagement.

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  • Amazon Ocelot Advances Quantum Computing Technology

    Amazon Ocelot Advances Quantum Computing Technology

    Key Takeaways

    1. Amazon Ocelot is a prototype quantum chip developed at the California Institute of Technology, not related to the .NET API Gateway.
    2. The chip aims to reduce quantum error correction costs by 90%, potentially making quantum computing more accessible.
    3. Ocelot is designed to compete with chips like Microsoft’s Majorana 1 and Google’s Willow in the quantum computing race.
    4. The chip features two silicon microchips with 14 components, including data and error detection qubits.
    5. Amazon recently launched Alexa+, a more advanced version of its voice assistant, while its stock is rated as a “strong buy” with a potential price increase.

    While many may associate the name with the open-source .NET API Gateway, Amazon’s Ocelot is not related to software at all. This technology hails from the California Institute of Technology, where a group at the AWS Center for Quantum Computing has developed it. Amazon Ocelot is a prototype chip that claims to drastically reduce quantum error correction expenses by an impressive 90%.

    Competing in Quantum Computing

    Amazon Ocelot is poised to rival chips like Microsoft’s Majorana 1 and Google’s Willow as it seeks to establish itself in the race towards mainstream quantum computing. The field of quantum computing, although still in its infancy, holds the potential to drive significant advancements across various sectors, including medicine and traditional computing. Oskar Painter, the AWS director of Quantum Hardware, stated,

    “In the future, quantum chips designed following the Ocelot model could be priced at just one-fifth of what is currently available, thanks to the significantly lesser resources needed for error correction. We genuinely believe this could speed up our journey to a usable quantum computer by as much as five years.”

    Technical Specifications

    When it comes to the technical aspects of Amazon Ocelot, it features two integrated silicon microchips, each covering an area of about one square centimeter, stacked together in a connected manner. Each chip’s surface is layered with a thin coating of superconductors. The chip contains 14 essential components, comprising five data qubits and four error detection qubits. The last five are buffer circuits that help in stabilizing the data qubits. For further specifications, you can visit the Amazon Science website.

    This week, Amazon also launched Alexa+ (available for free to Amazon Prime users or for $19.99/month for those without Prime), an enhanced version of its well-liked voice assistant. Thanks to advancements in artificial intelligence, Alexa+ can perform a wider array of tasks and engage in more sophisticated conversations compared to its earlier version. Currently, Amazon stock is rated as a “strong buy,” with a 12-month price prediction ranging from $203 to $306, averaging around $262. This average indicates a 22% rise from its current level of about $215.

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  • Amazon’s Alexa+ Unveiled: Enhanced Autonomy for AI Assistant

    Amazon’s Alexa+ Unveiled: Enhanced Autonomy for AI Assistant

    Key Takeaways

    1. Alexa+ is an upgraded version of Amazon’s voice assistant, featuring AI-driven enhancements for more natural interactions and better smart home control.
    2. The subscription for Alexa+ costs $19.99 per month but is free for Amazon Prime members.
    3. Alexa+ will launch in the U.S. in March 2025, initially available only on specific Echo Show devices starting at $184.
    4. Future capabilities include understanding everyday language, providing follow-up questions, and dynamic interactions with smart home devices.
    5. Alexa+ can independently manage tasks, such as arranging appointments and processing payments, but there are concerns about data privacy and limited device access.

    Amazon has unveiled Alexa+, an upgraded version of its voice assistant that comes packed with AI-driven features. This new version promises to provide more natural interactions, better control of smart home devices, and the ability to perform tasks on its own. However, these enhancements do come with a cost. The subscription for Alexa+ is priced at $19.99 per month, although it’s free for those who have a Prime membership.

    Launch Details

    Alexa+ is scheduled to launch in the United States in March 2025. However, initial access will be restricted to specific Alexa devices, such as the Echo Show 8, 10, 15, and 21, which are available on Amazon starting at $184. There has been no announcement regarding when Alexa+ will be released in other countries.

    Future Capabilities

    In the near future, Alexa is expected to comprehend everyday language and incomplete sentences, prompting users with follow-up questions when something isn’t clear. This should make conversations feel much more fluid and less mechanical.

    Alexa+ will also enhance interactions with smart home devices by being more dynamic and aware of context. Users can control settings using simple voice commands, like saying, “Alexa, dim the living room lights to 50% when the movie starts.” Additionally, it will learn from user behaviors and suggest handy actions, such as warming up the house before you arrive.

    Independent Task Management

    With Alexa+, the assistant will be capable of managing tasks online all by itself. It can arrange appointments, locate and book service providers, and even process payments.

    Many users on Reddit see Alexa+ as a much-needed update, particularly due to its upgraded voice recognition and better smart home compatibility. Nonetheless, some criticism arises from the limited access to certain Echo Show models. There are also worries about data privacy, potential increases in advertising, and the monthly subscription fee, which has led to some skepticism.

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  • Amazon Delays Alexa’s AI Update Due to Latency Issues

    Amazon Delays Alexa’s AI Update Due to Latency Issues

    Leaked internal documents obtained by Fortune reveal various technical issues related to the upcoming AI revamp for Alexa, Amazon’s voice assistant. A major issue is latency, which refers to the delay in how long it takes for the AI to answer a question.

    Testing Feedback and Concerns

    The latency concern is serious enough that several internal testers have rated the new assistant poorly. The average score given by testers was 4.5 out of 7, falling short of the target score of 5.5 out of 7. The team is worried that if this product is launched in its current condition, it could lead to user frustration.

    Key Issues Highlighted

    The memo states that “latency continues to be a major issue” that will need “notable improvements.” Another significant challenge is the possibility that some older Echo devices might not work with the new assistant.

    Amazon spokesperson Lauren Raemhild mentioned to Fortune, “Generative AI presents a significant opportunity to enhance Alexa for our customers.” She added, “We are diligently working to provide even more proactive and capable assistance on the more than half a billion Alexa-enabled devices already present in homes globally.”

    Challenges Faced by the Team

    The team is also encountering numerous technological and administrative challenges, such as insufficient data for training its AI model or resources being redirected to focus on Generative AI for Amazon’s cloud services. The memos indicate that the relaunch of Alexa has been postponed at least three times, with the latest date set for November 14, 2024.

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