Amazon's "ChatGPT killer" internally code-named “Metis,” will be powered by Amazon’s Olympus large language model.  The tentative launch date is in September.  

https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-chatgpt-rival-codenamed-metis-2024-6

Amazon is secretly working on a ChatGPT killer

Amazon's "ChatGPT killer" internally code-named “Metis,” will be powered by Amazon’s Olympus large language model.  The tentative launch date is in September.    https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-chatgpt-rival-codenamed-metis-2024-6

At a splashy media event in Manhattan today, I watched Amazon CEO Andy Jassy and other executives of the company unveil a long-awaited revamp of Alexa, meant to be a chattier, more helpful and more personalized version of the voice assistant. They demonstrated how to use Alexa+, as the updated version is dubbed, to order groceries from Amazon Fresh, book a lunch reservation through OpenTable and control smart home features. 

If those functions sound familiar, it’s because Alexa has been doing each of those things for many years. The difference is that the new version will be able to do so in a more seamless and conversational way that’s familiar to users of large language model chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, potentially increasing the likelihood that people will actually use those features. Amazon unveiled some impressive new Alexa+ functions too, such as sending reminder texts on a user’s behalf and quizzing a student for a school assignment.

At a splashy media event in Manhattan today, I watched Amazon CEO Andy Jassy and other executives of the company unveil a long-awaited revamp of Alexa, meant to be a chattier, more helpful and more personalized version of the voice assistant. They demonstrated how to use Alexa+, as the updated version is dubbed, to order groceries from Amazon Fresh, book a lunch reservation through OpenTable and control smart home features.   If those functions sound familiar, it’s because Alexa has been doing each of those things for many years. The difference is that the new version will be able to do so in a more seamless and conversational way that’s familiar to users of large language model chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, potentially increasing the likelihood that people will actually use those features. Amazon unveiled some impressive new Alexa+ functions too, such as sending reminder texts on a user’s behalf and quizzing a student for a school assignment.

Cyril

Amazon’s revamped Alexa will be reportedly primarily powered by Anthropic’s Claude AI models. Amazon wishes it could buy Anthropic so bad.

https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/amazon-turns-anthropics-claude-alexa-ai-revamp-2024-08-30/?ref=platformer.news

Amazon’s revamped Alexa will be reportedly primarily powered by Anthropic’s Claude AI models. Amazon wishes it could buy Anthropic so bad.  https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/amazon-turns-anthropics-claude-alexa-ai-revamp-2024-08-30/?ref=platformer.news

Initial versions of the new Alexa using in-house software struggled for words

Ask Claude: Amazon turns to Anthropic's AI for Alexa revamp

Sam Mendoza

New Amazon #Gadgets are on the way and better be impressive after no updates in many cases over 7 years!  I'm in the market for a new alarm clock so I can keep my phone out of the bedroom for the sake of #Sleep .  This Prime Day price is tempting!  

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/08/amazon-new-echo-spot-alarm-clock-price-release-date.html

Gadgets

Sleep

New Amazon #Gadgets are on the way and better be impressive after no updates in many cases over 7 years!  I'm in the market for a new alarm clock so I can keep my phone out of the bedroom for the sake of #Sleep .  This Prime Day price is tempting!    https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/08/amazon-new-echo-spot-alarm-clock-price-release-date.html

It is the first upgrade to the device since Amazon first introduced the Echo Spot in 2017.

Amazon announces new $79 Echo Spot alarm clock

Amazon is planning to revamp its Alexa voice assistant business with two tiers of new generative AI features, one of which will charge a subscription fee of $5 to $10 a month.

The efforts, known as “Project Banyan” internally, would allow users to perform more intricate tasks like sending an email or ordering food from a delivery service. Amazon is aiming to prepare the new version of Alexa, known as “Remarkable Alexa,” by August, the report said. While a tier of the service would be free, as Alexa is now, Amazon is also planning a paid tier.

The Alexa updates are Amazon’s latest efforts to catch up to competitors on generative AI, as well a new push to make money from Alexa, which has never turned a profit. Late last year, Amazon cut hundreds of jobs in its devices unit, which houses Alexa teams, shortly after former Microsoft executive Panos Panay joined the company to take over the unit. At the time of the layoffs, devices executives told employees Amazon would increase its investments into developing generative AI tools and would discontinue other initiatives.

https://www.theinformation.com/briefings/amazon-reportedly-plans-alexa-revamp-new-paid-features?utm_campaign=%5BREBRAND%5D+%5BTI-AM%5D+Th&utm_content=1095&utm_medium=email&utm_source=cio&utm_term=124&rc=gzsl71

Amazon is planning to revamp its Alexa voice assistant business with two tiers of new generative AI features, one of which will charge a subscription fee of $5 to $10 a month.  The efforts, known as “Project Banyan” internally, would allow users to perform more intricate tasks like sending an email or ordering food from a delivery service. Amazon is aiming to prepare the new version of Alexa, known as “Remarkable Alexa,” by August, the report said. While a tier of the service would be free, as Alexa is now, Amazon is also planning a paid tier.  The Alexa updates are Amazon’s latest efforts to catch up to competitors on generative AI, as well a new push to make money from Alexa, which has never turned a profit. Late last year, Amazon cut hundreds of jobs in its devices unit, which houses Alexa teams, shortly after former Microsoft executive Panos Panay joined the company to take over the unit. At the time of the layoffs, devices executives told employees Amazon would increase its investments into developing generative AI tools and would discontinue other initiatives.  https://www.theinformation.com/briefings/amazon-reportedly-plans-alexa-revamp-new-paid-features?utm_campaign=%5BREBRAND%5D+%5BTI-AM%5D+Th&utm_content=1095&utm_medium=email&utm_source=cio&utm_term=124&rc=gzsl71

Amazon is planning to revamp its Alexa voice assistant business with two tiers of new generative AI features, one of which will charge a subscription fee of $5 to $10 a month, Reuters  reported  Friday.    The efforts, known as “Project Banyan” internally, would allow users to perform more intricate tasks like sending an email or ordering food from a delivery service. Amazon is aiming to prepare

Briefing: Amazon Reportedly Plans Alexa Revamp, New Paid Features

Todd Smith

I've been following buzz around their major revamp of its decade-old money-losing Alexa service to include a conversational generative AI with two tiers of service and has considered a monthly fee of around $5 to access the superior version.  This timing lines up to imply it'll have Olympus within.  

https://www.reuters.com/technology/amazon-mulls-5-10-monthly-price-tag-unprofitable-alexa-service-ai-revamp-2024-06-21/

I've been following buzz around their major revamp of its decade-old money-losing Alexa service to include a conversational generative AI with two tiers of service and has considered a monthly fee of around $5 to access the superior version.  This timing lines up to imply it'll have Olympus within.    https://www.reuters.com/technology/amazon-mulls-5-10-monthly-price-tag-unprofitable-alexa-service-ai-revamp-2024-06-21/

Known internally as “Banyan,” the project would represent the first major overhaul of the voice assistant since it was introduced in 2014 along with the Echo line of speakers.

D J

A group of likeminded people in Artificial Intelligence are talking about this.