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Voice Assistants

All articles tagged with #voice assistants

technology23 days ago

AI's Impact on Smart Homes: Breakthroughs and Challenges in 2025

In 2025, AI-powered smart home assistants like Alexa Plus have failed to meet expectations, struggling with basic tasks and reliability despite promises of advanced, conversational capabilities. Experts attribute these issues to the inherent unpredictability of large language models (LLMs) and the challenges in integrating them with traditional command-based systems, leading to a reliance on real-world testing and gradual improvements over time.

via The Verge|
#ai#alexa-plus#generative-ai
technology1 year ago

Amazon's Alexa Faces Uncertain Future Amid AI Challenges

Amazon's Alexa, launched quietly in 2014, has become a staple in millions of homes, symbolizing the voice-first technology era. Despite its widespread adoption, Alexa hasn't met Amazon's ambitious goals of becoming a versatile, powerful assistant. Primarily used for music and timers, Alexa is set for a significant upgrade with the integration of large language models and generative AI, potentially transforming its capabilities. The upcoming "Remarkable Alexa" could finally realize Amazon's vision, marking a new chapter in the evolution of smart speakers.

via The Verge|
#alexa#amazon#generative-ai
artificial-intelligence1 year ago

"Apple Unveils ReALM: AI Model Outperforms GPT-4 in Contextual Understanding"

Apple researchers have developed a new AI system called ReALM (Reference Resolution as Language Modeling) that aims to improve how voice assistants understand and respond to commands by tackling reference resolution, deciphering ambiguous references to on-screen entities, and understanding conversational and background context. ReALM outperforms traditional methods, including OpenAI's GPT-4, by converting the complex process of reference resolution into a pure language modeling problem. This could lead to more intuitive and natural interactions with devices, making voice assistants more useful in various settings. Apple is expected to unveil AI features at WWDC in June.

via MacRumors|
#ai#apple#artificial-intelligence
technology1 year ago

"Top 7 Questions to Avoid Asking Virtual Assistants"

A recent study found that voice assistants like Siri, Google Assistant, and Alexa provide unreliable and potentially dangerous responses when asked about cardiac arrest emergencies, highlighting the importance of calling 911 in such situations. The article also advises against asking smart assistants for medical advice, information on harming someone, or assistance with potentially illegal activities. Additionally, it warns against relying on voice assistants for financial transactions, food safety, and data management, emphasizing the need for human judgment in certain situations.

via Fox News|
#emergency-situations#medical-advice#smart-assistants
technology1 year ago

"Samsung TVs Lose Google Assistant Support"

Google Assistant will no longer be available on Samsung smart TVs starting March 1, 2024, due to a change in Google's policy. Users can still access features through other voice assistants like Bixby and Amazon's Alexa, as Samsung continues to support them. Google has recently made changes to streamline Assistant and will be adding new features in the future, possibly with an increased focus on Google Assistant with Bard.

via SamMobile - Samsung news|
#google-assistant#policy-change#samsung
technology2 years ago

"Amazon's Alexa Plus: The Future of Paid Voice Assistants"

Amazon is reportedly working on a subscription-based "Alexa Plus" service powered by generative AI, but it's facing technical issues and uncertainty about user willingness to pay. A DIY "Breadboard Phone" combining a Sparkfun LTE Stick with a microcontroller, antennas, audio hardware, and a keypad has been created. Wine 9.0 has been released with experimental Wayland support and ARM64 support. Samsung is rolling out the Android 14 update for the budget-friendly Galaxy Tab A7 Lite in South Korea.

via Liliputing|
#ai#amazon#android-14
technology2 years ago

"Upgrade Your iPhone 15 Pro Experience: Replace Siri with ChatGPT's Voice-Enabled Action Button"

iPhone 15 Pro users can replace Siri with ChatGPT, a generative AI model, by customizing the new Action button on their device. By downloading the ChatGPT app from the App Store and assigning it as an Action Button shortcut, users can access ChatGPT with a tap. Upgrading to ChatGPT Plus unlocks additional features such as browsing the internet and providing citations, but a free alternative is the Bing Chat app supported by GPT-4.

via ZDNet|
#chatgpt#iphone-15-pro#openai
technology2 years ago

"Amazon's Alexa: Privacy Concerns and Advancements in 2023"

Amazon showcased its generative-AI-powered Alexa during its annual hardware event, highlighting new features and improvements. The new Alexa will be able to listen without the user needing to say "Alexa" first, using visual processing and acoustic models to determine when someone is speaking to it. Amazon is also working on reducing Alexa's time-to-response and allowing users to pause or use fillers during interactions. However, the presentation did not address any new privacy or security measures to address concerns about the increased listening and watching capabilities of the device.

via Ars Technica|
#alexa#amazon#generative-ai
technology2 years ago

"JBL's Multi-Assistant Speakers: A Not-So-Perfect Harmony with Alexa and Google Assistant"

JBL's new Authentics speaker range allows users to run both Google Assistant and Alexa simultaneously, a feature that sets it apart from other speakers on the market. While the two voice assistants generally work well together, there are some limitations and inconsistencies in their responses to specific commands. The speakers also feature a retro-inspired design, physical controls for adjusting sound levels, and support for various streaming services and technologies. JBL emphasizes sustainability with the use of recycled materials and a replaceable battery. The availability of speakers offering simultaneous access to both voice assistants in the future remains uncertain, as it is currently being treated as an experimental feature.

via The Verge|
#alexa#google-assistant#jbl
technology2 years ago

"Tech Giants Unite: Amazon and Google Join Forces for Groundbreaking Smart Speaker Collaboration"

JBL has announced three new smart speakers, the Authentics 200, Authentics 500, and Authentics 300, which are the first to feature both Amazon's Alexa and Google's Assistant for simultaneous use. Users can invoke either assistant at any time, allowing for seamless control of tasks and smart home devices. While the assistants are not linked to each other, they are "aware" of each other thanks to a Multi-Agent Experience (MAX) Toolkit. The speakers, which feature a retro design and high-end audio capabilities, will be available in September.

via The Verge|
#alexa#google-assistant#jbl
health2 years ago

"Virtual Assistants: Lifesaving CPR Support?"

A study has found that voice assistants like Siri and Alexa provide inconsistent and often irrelevant information when it comes to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Only 59% of responses included CPR-related information, and just one third gave actual CPR instructions. Bystanders are advised not to rely on voice assistants for medical information and should prioritize calling emergency services (911) in case of a medical emergency. The American Heart Association recommends taking CPR courses and building a cardiac response plan. Researchers suggest standardizing phrases and incorporating evidence-based content to improve the quality of CPR instructions provided by voice assistants.

via CNN|
#american-heart-association#cpr#emergency-services
technology2 years ago

DIY Voice Assistant Puzzle Solved with $50 Willow Hardware

Willow is a new project that aims to fill the gap in the market for Home Assistant-ready voice gear by utilizing ESP-32-BOX devices, which provide a basic hardware shell around ESP32 SoCs. Once flashed with Willow, they can work as locally controlled voice assistants and, eventually, great and easy access points for Home Assistant. The project is cheap, easily flashed, self-hosted or entirely on-device, open source, and extensible by software or GPIO pins. The voice detection is accurate and reliable, and the hardware is ready for the kitchen counter.

via Ars Technica|
#esp-32-box#home-assistant#open-source
technology2 years ago

Long-lasting Cat Tracking Tag by Tile.

Tile has launched a new cat-tracking tag that attaches to a cat's collar and lasts up to three years. The tracker has a 250-foot range and works with Android and iOS devices. It also integrates with voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant. The package comes with a Tile sticker and a collar attachment and is compatible with almost all standard cat collars. This is Tile's first foray into pet products and offers an inexpensive Bluetooth-based tracking solution for cats that don't venture out much.

via TechCrunch|
#bluetooth#cat-tracking#pet-products
technology2 years ago

Fire TVs: A Glimmer of Hope for Amazon Alexa's Future

Amazon's Alexa has struggled to make money and provide value to consumers beyond performing basic tasks, leading to reports of internal anxiety around declining engagement. However, Amazon's Fire TV sets and streaming devices offer a glimmer of hope for Alexa's survival, as they provide a better shopping experience and are better positioned to recommend users to video streaming services. Amazon's TV-related businesses, including Fire TV and Prime Video, seem to be doing better than Alexa, with Fire TV sets being the fastest-growing segment of its Fire TV business.

via Ars Technica|
#alexa#amazon#fire-tv