Voice assistants were too dumb says Microsoft boss
Published in IoT


Siri, Alexa and Cortana never reached full potential 

After years of telling us that the Internet of Things powered by voice activated assistants were going to be a big thing, Big Tech is finally admitting that they were too dumb to do what was claimed.

Amazon thinks that Alexa voice assistant was a failure
Published in News


Axeman coming for Alexa

Online bookseller Amazon is culling more than 10,000 staff and a big chunk of those is the Amazon Alexa voice assistant unit, which some senior managers have written off as a failure.

Alexi allows you to speak to the dead
Published in AI
Monday, 25 July 2022 10:48

Alexi allows you to speak to the dead


Is there any body there? 

Amazon's digital assistant has come up with a tool which will be a big hit amongst necromancers. 

Alexa tells child to electrocute herself for a challenge
Published in IoT


It may sound shocking but who hasn't wanted to do that?

Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant recommended to a 10 year-old that she electrocute herself as part of a “challenge”.

Alexa why am I so bored with you?
Published in AI
Friday, 24 December 2021 11:22

Alexa why am I so bored with you?


Most users only want a brief encounter

Amazon’s AI Alexa seems doomed to never have a proper relationship.

No one calls their kid Alexa any more
Published in IoT
Thursday, 19 August 2021 13:19

No one calls their kid Alexa any more


Amazon killed off the name

Alexa used to be a name primarily given to babies and in the seven years since Amazon released Alexa, its voice assistant and as the number of devices answering to that name has skyrocketed, something has happed.

Amazon makes Alexa more proactive
Published in AI
Wednesday, 27 January 2021 11:28

Amazon makes Alexa more proactive


Can put your lights out

Amazon is enabling a new feature today that allows Alexa to proactively complete tasks around the house, such as turning off lights, based on your habits and frequent requests.

Turing test is out of date
Published in AI
Thursday, 31 December 2020 09:55

Turing test is out of date


According to Alexa boss

Alexa's Head boffin Rohit Prasad  claims that the Turing Test is out of date and ignores many new AI developments.

Hey Alexa, sit on my face
Published in IoT
Friday, 20 November 2020 12:25

Hey Alexa, sit on my face


Advice on the move

Amazon’s Alexa-enabled Echo Frames smart glasses are available for preorder for $250.

Alexa, can you send all your recordings to hackers?
Published in News


Check Point makes charlies out of Amazon security

Israeli Security outfit Check Point have told Wired that Alexa's Web services had bugs that a hacker could have exploited to grab a target's entire voice history, meaning their recorded audio interactions with Alexa.