Tags: Alexa Plus

David Luan, who led Amazon's San Francisco artificial intelligence laboratory and oversaw the development of the Nova Act AI browser agent, announced his departure after less than two years with the company. In a LinkedIn post, Luan said he would leave at the end of the week to focus on new projects, emphasizing the proximity of artificial general intelligence and his desire to devote his time to teaching AI new capabilities. His exit occurs as Amazon faces internal criticism of its AI products and rolls out the Alexa Plus assistant to U.S. users. Lire la suite

New AI features are reshaping smart home devices, promising more natural voice interactions, privacy‑friendly presence sensing, and hands‑off automation. Brands are introducing conversational assistants that understand follow‑up requests, sensors that detect occupants without intrusive cameras, and automation tools that create routines without manual setup. While the hype around AI is high, early implementations suggest a shift toward more intuitive, self‑managing homes. Lire la suite

Google has begun rolling out its new Gemini voice assistant for Google Home smart speakers and displays, positioning it as the default assistant across its ecosystem. While a recent blog post praised the rollout and highlighted a user’s positive experience, the accompanying FAQ revealed recurring problems, including misinterpreted commands and unreliable device control. Access to Gemini requires enrollment in an Early Access program that launched in late October, and the rollout is expected to be gradual, potentially not reaching all users until next spring. Early feedback suggests the generative‑AI‑driven assistant still struggles with basic smart‑home tasks. Lire la suite

Amazon has launched Alexa Plus, a generative AI assistant, within its Amazon Music mobile app for iOS and Android. The new feature, available to users in an early‑access beta, lets listeners ask complex music‑related questions, identify songs by lyrics or context, and receive highly personalized recommendations based on era, mood, artists, instruments, and more. Users can also filter out unwanted content, such as specific genres or performers, while exploring deeper details like chart positions, sample origins, and song meanings. Lire la suite

Amazon and Google have introduced new AI‑driven versions of their smart home voice assistants—Alexa Plus and Gemini for Home—built on generative AI and large language models. Both companies say the upgrades will make the assistants more conversational, better at understanding context, and capable of proactive actions. Early access programs are already testing the technology, but the firms acknowledge hurdles such as reliability, response speed, cloud dependence, and convincing users to pay for advanced features. The rollout marks a major shift in the smart‑home market, with both firms betting on AI to revive growth. Lire la suite

Amazon and Google announced a wave of new smart home hardware powered by advanced artificial intelligence. Amazon introduced updated Echo Show displays and Echo speakers featuring the Alexa Plus voice assistant, along with a lineup of Ring cameras that includes a 4K video doorbell and an AI tool for locating missing dogs. Google responded with a major overhaul, embedding its Gemini AI into Google Home devices under the Gemini for Home brand, launching Gemini-capable Nest security cameras, a new video doorbell, and a low‑cost camera series partnered with Walmart, plus a next‑generation Google Home speaker slated for release next year. Lire la suite

Amazon is set to launch its fall hardware showcase on September 30th, offering a live‑blog experience for viewers. The invitation hints at at least two new Echo devices, a freshly colored Kindle, and a new TV‑related hardware offering. Attendees may also receive updates on Alexa Plus, the AI‑driven upgrade to Alexa that debuted earlier this year. The event marks the third major product reveal led by Panos Panay since his 2023 move from Microsoft to Amazon, continuing the company's tradition of unveiling Alexa‑enabled innovations at its autumn gatherings. Lire la suite

Amazon held its fall hardware showcase in New York City, unveiling a slate of new Kindle e‑readers, Echo speakers and potentially a television. The event followed CEO Andy Jassy’s earlier promise of “beautiful” hardware and highlighted the rollout of Alexa Plus, the company’s latest AI‑driven assistant. While the new devices aim to improve user experience, early impressions noted that Alexa Plus can still be sluggish and occasionally misinterpret commands. The live‑blogged event began at 10 a.m. Eastern, with no video feed provided, and emphasized Amazon’s push to strengthen its hardware ecosystem ahead of the holiday season. Lire la suite

Amazon has introduced Alexa Plus, an upgraded voice assistant designed for Fire TV hardware. The new service aims to reduce the need for phones by delivering context‑sensitive information while users watch movies, TV shows, and live sports. Alexa Plus enhances Amazon's X‑Ray feature, supports scene searches, provides actor bios, and shares real‑time scores and stats. It will be available on the latest Fire TV 2‑ and 4‑series, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select, and select Panasonic and Hisense models, with broader support expected later. Lire la suite

Amazon announced a new family of Fire TVs, including a brighter Omni QLED model, and refreshed Fire TV 2 and Fire TV 4 series. The devices incorporate "omnisense" presence detection that powers the TV on when it senses a viewer, and Alexa Plus for remote‑free voice control. Sizes range from 32‑inch to 75‑inch, with pricing that starts under $160 for the entry‑level model and climbs to just under $480 for the 50‑inch QLED. Pre‑orders begin immediately with shipments slated for the following month, positioning Amazon to compete more directly with premium TV manufacturers. Lire la suite

Amazon introduced two refreshed Echo Show models—a compact 8‑inch Echo Show 8 and a larger 11‑inch Echo Show 11—at its latest hardware event. Both devices feature slimmer designs, upgraded LCD panels with wider viewing angles, and enhanced audio with front‑facing stereo speakers and a custom woofer. Powered by the new AZ3 Pro chip, they run the optional Alexa Plus AI assistant, which leverages a suite of sensors to provide smarter home awareness. The new displays also support Thread, Matter, and Zigbee, positioning them as capable smart‑home hubs. Pricing starts at $179.99 for the Echo Show 8 and $219.99 for the Echo Show 11, with pre‑orders now open. Lire la suite

Amazon introduced the Echo Dot Max, its latest smart speaker, at a fall hardware event. The device features a flat front panel, upgraded sound system delivering nearly three times more bass than its predecessor, and a new AZ3 processor that enhances on‑device AI and conversation detection. Priced at $99.99, it joins the Echo Studio, Echo Show 8, and Show 11 as part of Amazon’s most powerful Echo lineup. The Echo Dot Max also supports Alexa Plus, a subscription‑based AI upgrade that enables more natural, multi‑turn conversations and personalized recommendations. Pre‑orders begin immediately with general availability slated for October 29, and U.S. buyers of any new Echo devices receive early access to Alexa Plus. Lire la suite

Amazon's Alexa Plus, the generative‑AI‑enhanced voice assistant, offers a smoother conversational experience and broader smart‑home control, but users report slower response times, inconsistent routine handling, and hardware limitations. While the new Echo Show devices demonstrate improved UI and natural‑language commands, the underlying LLM architecture still struggles with reliability, leading to mixed impressions of the service's readiness for everyday use. Lire la suite