This is the "first time generative AI has been applied at this scale. It’s about to get much easier to interact with your home assistant." Strong words from Amazon at it's annual product showcase which saw not only updates to its Echo, Fire TV, Ring, Blink, and Eero devices but also a major change in the way Alexa works.
While the new products were impressive – especially the new Echo Home Hub and second-generation Echo Frames – it's the way you can interact with its voice assistant that offers the biggest change.
First of all, there's the way it speaks. Amazon compared the same sentence as Alexa would have delivered it in 2014 with the upcoming 2024 language model. It wasn't just that the pronunciation was better, but there was a wider change in expression in the voice that made it sound much more real.
It's when there is interaction between you and Alexa though that will get the biggest makeover. In these speech-to-speech occasions, as Amazon calls it, the new large language model (LLM) can react faster and without additional prompts. This feels more like a conversation than a call and answer.
The conversation mode enters the device into a continuous chat that you can leave and come back to without having to go back over the same points. The responses shown (though part of a demo) showed a lot more character than I'm used to seeing and allowed you to delve into subjects much easier.
The potential for this in the home is one thing, but Amazon is also working with partners such as BMW to bring this into cars too. Here there is huge scope to bring a Knight Rider car experience to life, with a car that not only 'gets you' but can respond like a human.
What was clear from the 2023 showcase was that Amazon is offering a full eco-system with its devices and this generative AI is at the heart of it. From editing images on the Fire TV Stick to the Eye Gaze function on the Fire Max 11 tablet that allows hands and voice-free operation.
Upgrade to smarter living
Get the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products straight to your inbox.
Alexa remains at the heart of the eco-system though, and will be even more useful in its upcoming 2024 form. If people can speak to Alexa like a person they will get more out of those conversations than just turning on lights and setting a timer.
Anyone who thought Alexa's days were numbered would definitely change their mind if they saw this level of interaction. I've used Alexa devices throughout my home for years but I'm genuinely excited about the potential of the new updates to the large language model.
As T3's Editor-in-Chief, Mat Gallagher has his finger on the pulse for the latest advances in technology. He has written about technology since 2003 and after stints in Beijing, Hong Kong and Chicago is now based in the UK. He’s a true lover of gadgets, but especially anything that involves cameras, Apple, electric cars, musical instruments or travel.
-
Google Search gets an unusual update that could prove controversial
Google is stripping away a potentially useful tool, one that it says few people use.
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
Astell&Kern's new hi-res audio player is smaller and lighter, but no less incredible
The SP3000M is "the finest Hi-Fi portable audio player available today", its maker claims
By Carrie Marshall Published
-
Kindle just got the upgrade I've wanted for years – it'll be a game-changer
With the Colorsoft, Kindle has finally added a feature I thought it would be missing forever
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
Amazon Kindle lineup gets upgrades across the board – first full-colour Kindle, new Kindle Scribe and more
Kindle Colorsoft is a "Kindle without compromise" and Kindle Scribe is reinvented
By Rik Henderson Published
-
New Kindles go on sale at major UK retailer – and they haven't even launched yet
Price revealed and more
By Rik Henderson Published
-
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite also getting a big upgrade this week, according to leak
A Paperwhite with a larger display has been spotted in the wild
By Rik Henderson Published
-
Amazon Prime members get one of the best games of all time for free
27 games are coming to Prime Gaming to download for free this month
By Rik Henderson Last updated
-
Amazon's Fire HD 8 refresh is faster, has a better camera and under £50 for a limited time
Amazon has refreshed its Fire HD 8 tablets and slashed their prices by half during the launch window.
By Rik Henderson Published
-
All Amazon Prime members get one of the best shooters of all time for free
It's a big month for Prime Gaming
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
Amazon's paid Alexa service is finally nearing launch
Alexa's getting some premium smarts
By Max Freeman-Mills Published