Top 10 Features of Alexa

Artificial intelligence (AI) appears to be difficult to define for something so widespread and significant. If you ask 10 different individuals what artificial intelligence is, you'll receive ten different replies. Some argue that Amazon's Alexa is an example of artificial intelligence, but is this correct?

 

Many people point to Alexa as an example of AI in daily life. At the same time, you may have heard some say that Alexa isn't truly AI. So, which is it? Is Alexa AI or not?

 

In general, Alexa is an example of AI. However, it is not an example of "strong" or "real" AI. Let us investigate more.

 

Who or What is Alexa?

 

Alexa is a virtual personal assistant that competes with Apple's Siri, Google Now, and others. Alexa, created by Amazon's secretive Lab126, can listen to your voice instructions and reply with contextual replies to assist you in getting the task done. 

 

Alexa can let you listen to Spotify music, write to-do lists, purchase, and even operate your smart home appliances, such as Google's Nest thermostat or Philips Hue. The Amazon Echo, a speaker and smart-home hub that also works on a variety of other devices, popularized Alexa.

 

Alexa, like other virtual agents, has issues comprehending user orders and reacting correctly. However, due to the fact that it is a cloud-based service, To solve such problems, Amazon is constantly enhancing Alexa's intelligence. Alexa will grow more clever as machine learning becomes more advanced.

 

Amazon Alexa may provide the greatest Amazon Echo experience. Amazon, on the other hand, has brought the smart assistant to other home hubs such as the Echo Dot and the Tap. Alexa is also supported by Amazon's Fire TV set-top box and Fire HD 8 tablet.

 

Amazon has also permitted select third parties to support Alexa as part of its push to widen Alexa's reach. Alexa is supported by the LG SmartThinQ hub and the Pebble Core smartwatch, for example. Alexa is also supported by the Nucleus Anywhere intercom, and the CoWatch wearable features Alexa connectivity.

 

Also Read | Top High-Tech Smartwatches

 

How does Alexa Use AI?

 

It's simple to understand why Alexa is a powerful AI, but where does AI fit in? The earliest and most obvious application of AI in Alexa is in the way it speaks. To interpret and reproduce human speech, Alexa employs a technique known as natural language processing.

 

Alexa also uses AI to discover your behaviors and preferences. It will adjust if it sees a pattern in the questions you ask or when you ask them. The more you use it, the better it knows what you want and responds to you.When you use Alexa to switch on and off your lights, it learns when you do so.

 

Alexa and other virtual assistants, such as Google Assistant and Apple's Siri, rely heavily on artificial intelligence, automation, and machine learning technologies to respond to user input and perform tasks. How does Alexa make use of AI?

 

Since 2018, machine learning technology has been improving Alexa's capabilities. Alexa, for example, learnt how to transfer over context from one inquiry to the next and register follow-up queries without users having to repeat the system's wake word throughout that year. 

 

The platform also has the capacity to handle several requests at the same time, as well as the ability to summon a skill (one of Alexa's onboard apps) without knowing its specific name.

 

Over the course of a year, the introduction of a method known as transfer learning to Alexa resulted in a 25% reduction in its mistake rate. Deep learning (a machine learning innovation that uses artificial neural networks patterned on the human brain) is used to model several domains and transfer that learning to a new domain or talent.

 

Is Alexa using AI in any other ways? Well, the platform's introduction of self-learning technology has enabled Alexa to make changes based on context hints automatically. For example, if you ask your Echo to play a certain named radio station, the request will fail since Alexa does not catalog the station in that manner.

 

Amazon plans to make Alexa smarter by 2023 by allowing it to take natural turns, converse with several people, understand natural language, and be educated by its users. 

 

The smart home is the initial target for these enhancements, with features like Reading Sidekick (a tool meant to help youngsters read) and conversational changes targeted at making Alexa more of a family member without as many "Alexa" terms. Alexa for Business will most likely follow, with corresponding enhancements.

 

Features of Alexa

 

There is so much these smart speakers can do that it might be difficult to know where to begin. Instead of digging through the Alexa app for features, check out 10 features of Alexa here, to get you started :

 

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Top 10 Features of Alexa

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1. Make Telephone Calls

 

Amazon brings back home phones just when you thought they were extinct. Alexa can now make calls to other Alexa devices in other people's homes. You may even leave a message, just like the answering machines of the 1990s and 2000s.

 

Just keep in mind that anyone with your phone number may contact your Alexa speaker, although you can block undesirable incoming calls. What if you misplace your phone? Alexa can also assist you in locating it.

 

2. Food Network Shows

 

Through a Food Network agreement, Alexa will now be able to assist users in the preparation of meals. Customers will be able to use their Echo Show devices to view recipes and take cooking lessons. This will include requests such as "Alexa, show Bobby Flay cooking lessons," "Alexa, how many chicken thighs should I use?" and "Alexa, save that recipe."

 

3. Manage your Smart Home

 

Alexa is probably best at controlling your lights, door locks, appliances, switches, and other smart home gadgets. You may go through the smart home compatibility tool to discover what Alexa supports, but here are some suggestions to get you started:

 

You can control your lighting. You may ask Alexa to switch on or off lights. She'll even alter the hue if the lighting changes. Close or open your garage door. Alter the temperature. "Alexa, adjust the temperature to 68 degrees." Alexa-compatible smart thermostats include those from Honeywell, Nest, and Ecobee. Amazon also launched the Amazon Smart Thermostat lately.

 

4. Alexa Guard Enhancements

 

Alexa Guard, which listens for window breaches and alarms, is growing in popularity. The consumer may now employ more sophisticated routines, such as "Alexa, I'm heading to work." This not only activates Alexa Guard, but also other orders, such as shutting out the lights. 

 

Furthermore, Alexa Guard will begin monitoring not only for broken glass and alarms, but also for human activity while you are away. That means the Echo should be able to distinguish between your cat padding about the flat and a sneaky burglar.

 

5. Get the latest information

 

Alexa can tell you what's going on in the world while you prepare for work or return home after a long day. This is known as your Flash Briefing, and it may be tailored to include news sources that you wish to hear from. What do you mean? Do you want to listen to CNET News? No worries, here you go.

 

Also Read | Uses of AI at Home

 

6. 2.0 Smart Screen SDK

 

This new feature will enable greater engagement with displays by allowing users to respond to queries with screen interactions. This will bring third-party screens closer to the status of smart displays. This implies that when consumers request information like weather or sports updates, you will receive visual data.

 

7. Alexa Communications and Free Time Communications for Kids

 

Communication will allow youngsters to communicate with contacts that parents have pre-approved. Free Time on Echo Show will provide youngsters with access to games and other activities, in addition to the aforementioned Communications for Kids.

 

8. Alexa can keep your Pets Entertained

 

With the recent times of Covid-19, work from home was seen as a new lifestyle change in our life. Our impromptu work calls and lack of personal time leads are pets feeling lonely. With the new advancements of AI in the alexa, our pets can now be entertained and kept busy. 

 

By teaching in some easy commands like the Barking of the dog, or the Meowing of the cat, Alexa can play their favorite songs to keep them busy and happy. 

 

9. Alexa can keep you Healthy

 

Alexa can be a great companion in keeping you busy and be your new fitness buddy.  With a wide range of activities and exercises available on the web just by customizing your workout schedule,  You can ask alexa to play latest workout songs, Or have a live yoga or zumba session right at the comfort of your own drawing room. 

 

10. Set Necessary Reminders on Alexa

 

Set daily reminders like alarms for waking up, reminders to complete your 10,000 steps, or maybe as simply as “Drink Water” alexa got all of these covered. 

 

Alexa can store and remember your daily reminders and help you through the basic chores during the day making life smoother and easier. You just have to store your daily activity on the Amazon App and you are ready to go. 

 

Also Read | Understanding Amazon Web Services

 

Alexa and AI

 

Amazon Alexa is a voice-controlled digital or virtual assistant software that can generate to-do lists, order products online, set reminders, and answer inquiries (via internet searches). Alexa works closely with the Amazon Echo and Dot smart speakers. 

 

Voice commands may be used by owners of these systems to ask natural language queries, play music, order pizza, summon an Uber, and link Alexa with smart home devices. Alexa is already incorporated into over 100 different items. 

 

Alexa and other virtual assistants, such as Google Assistant and Apple's Siri, rely heavily on AI, automation, and machine learning technologies to respond to user input and perform tasks.

 

Amazon and Apple have changed their organizational structures to make AI a fundamental section that spreads to other businesses. In the instance of Apple, it formed a new artificial intelligence/machine learning team led by John Giannandrea, the former head of Google's machine intelligence, research, and search teams, that brought together its Siri and machine learning units. 

 

These actions by Amazon and Apple demonstrate both businesses' commitment to employing artificial intelligence to power their teams' efforts and the development of intelligent goods and services.