Alexa, did I upset you? Amazon wants its voice assistant to be emotionally intelligent

The digital assistant’s emotional intelligence extends to its listening ability, too.

Agencies
Amazon has worked to improve upon its digital assistant’s monotone, and says customer satisfaction with the experience improved in tests of Alexa’s new range.
By Matt Day

Amazon.com Inc. is trying to break Alexa away from its robotic monotone, giving developers tools to make the software sound excited or disappointed.
The company rolled out that capability Tuesday in an update to its market-leading home voice assistant, offering a range of options that take Alexa from quite excited to downright morose. The company said the tool may be useful in congratulating users on trivia wins, or consoling them on a sports team’s loss.


The default Alexa voice generated by Amazon’s text-to-speech software has been a sore spot for some software developers who build skills, as Amazon calls Alexa applications, but had hoped for it to be more engaging and customisable. Amazon has worked to improve upon its digital assistant’s monotone, and says customer satisfaction with the experience improved in tests of Alexa’s new range.

The digital assistant’s emotional intelligence extends to its listening ability, too. Earlier this year, Amazon developed a way for Alexa to detect when users were frustrated with a botched response to a music-related command, for example, that relies on measuring a speaker’s tone and word choice. The company has also contemplated putting emotion-detecting functionality into wearable devices.

Amazon Wants To Take Over With Redesigned Echo, Smart Clocks, Microwave
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Amazon caused a few gasps at its Alexa event Thursday when it revealed it had 70 things to announce.

The new products give Amazon a greater reach than ever before.

Updates to the internet giant's Alexa-infused Echo smart speakers will allow them to tend to microwave cooking and even have "hunches" regarding what users may want or have forgotten.

Alexa is even developing a personality, complete with a favorite pet or beer.

Here's a round up all of the Alexa-infused products Amazon showcased, including speakers, an in-car device and, a microwave:

Amazon caused a few gasps at its Alexa event Thursday when it revealed it had 70 things to announce. The new products give Amazon a greater reach than ever before. Updates to the internet giant's Ale..
Read More

The revamped Echo Dot has a new look, with rounded edges, and packs more punch, with a 1.6-inch driver delivering 70-per cent-louder audio than the previous model.

The speaker has lower distortion and enhanced bass. It can connect to other speakers and other apps and devices over Bluetooth.

The revamped Echo Dot has a new look, with rounded edges, and packs more punch, with a 1.6-inch driver delivering 70-per cent-louder audio than the previous model. The speaker has lower distortion an..
Read More

If you're craving more low-end tones from your Echo setup, you might consider the Echo Sub.

It delivers down-firing, 100W of bass through its 6-inch woofer, and you can pair it with an Echo or two to create a 2.1 stereo system.

If you're craving more low-end tones from your Echo setup, you might consider the Echo Sub. It delivers down-firing, 100W of bass through its 6-inch woofer, and you can pair it with an Echo or two to..
Read More

Amazon updated its Echo Plus, which includes a smart hub for a range of connected devices.

This time around, it has revamped speakers and a feature called local voice control, which lets you adjust your various smart-home devices even if your internet connection is down.

There's a temperature sensor too, so Echo Plus can tell smart thermostats to turn up the heat when it gets a little chilly.

Amazon updated its Echo Plus, which includes a smart hub for a range of connected devices. This time around, it has revamped speakers and a feature called local voice control, which lets you adjust y..
Read More

Not to be outdone by Chromecast Audio, Amazon has its own audio dongle called Echo Input, including Bluetooth, a microphone and a 3.5mm jack.

It doesn't have a speaker, so you'll need to connect it to your existing audio setup.

Not to be outdone by Chromecast Audio, Amazon has its own audio dongle called Echo Input, including Bluetooth, a microphone and a 3.5mm jack. It doesn't have a speaker, so you'll need to connect it t..
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New arrivals to the Echo lineup this year, Echo Link Amp and Echo Link, are for those who are more particular than most about audio quality.

The former includes a 60W two-channel amplifier with digital and analog connectors. Echo Link, meanwhile, connects to your audio setup to stream high-fidelity music.

New arrivals to the Echo lineup this year, Echo Link Amp and Echo Link, are for those who are more particular than most about audio quality. The former includes a 60W two-channel amplifier with digit..
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Amazon's smart display received an overhaul, as the company beefed up Echo Show with a 10-inch display alongside more powerful speakers and mics.

It has web browsers (Firefox and Amazon's Silk) this time around, along with Skype video chat support and Vevo music videos.

Amazon's smart display received an overhaul, as the company beefed up Echo Show with a 10-inch display alongside more powerful speakers and mics. It has web browsers (Firefox and Amazon's Silk) this ..
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Amazon is dipping into the DVR game this year with Fire TV Recast.

It works with over-the-air networks using an antenna and will send live TV or recorded shows to Fire tablets, Fire TV, Echo Show or mobile devices. And, of course, you can use Alexa to control it.

Amazon is dipping into the DVR game this year with Fire TV Recast. It works with over-the-air networks using an antenna and will send live TV or recorded shows to Fire tablets, Fire TV, Echo Show or ..
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It probably shouldn't come as a surprise that Amazon wants to put Alexa in your car, even if you don't have a fancy dashboard infotainment system.

Enter Echo Auto. It's a dongle that connects to your audio system and uses a phone's cell connection (because you need internet access for Alexa to work).

Along with the conversational assistance you'd expect with Alexa, you can use Echo Auto for directions.

It probably shouldn't come as a surprise that Amazon wants to put Alexa in your car, even if you don't have a fancy dashboard infotainment system.Enter Echo Auto. It's a dongle that connects to your ..
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Amazon has found a way to connect Alexa to pretty much any wall-powered device using its Smart Plugs.

Once you've linked them to an Echo or the Alexa app, you can turn devices on and off, or set timers.

Amazon has found a way to connect Alexa to pretty much any wall-powered device using its Smart Plugs. Once you've linked them to an Echo or the Alexa app, you can turn devices on and off, or set time..
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