Amazon’s Echo launched in 2014, and since then has helped create a voice-first revolution. But as AI takes over, the questions remain about what these devices are for.
Alexa didn’t get a big splashy launch event, or come with a bunch of grand proclamations about being the future of anything. Instead, like a phone charger with a made-up name or a knockoff version of your favorite blush, it just kind of appeared on Amazon one day. Ten years ago this week, on November 6th, 2014, Amazon launched the Echo and the smart speaker era. The device quickly spawned countless more, from Amazon and others.
But for all that success, Alexa has never lived up to Amazon’s lofty goals. It’s not the ultra-powerful and ultra-versatile Star Trek computer; it’s not even a better way to shop. After all this time, it’s for music and timers. Alexa has always been for music and timers. There’s a big change coming for Alexa, though.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
The Amazon Echo graveyardAmazon’s extensive Echo ecosystem helped bring its Alexa smart assistant into many homes, but not every Echo product was a success story.
Read more »
Early Black Friday deals from Amazon include the Echo Show 5 for only $50Lawrence is a contributing reporter at Engadget, specializing in our AI overlords, musical doodads and, of course, garden variety gaming and tech. To that end, Lawrence once lost badly in multiplayer Mario to Nintendo’s own Shigeru Miyamoto, who laughed gleefully as he threw him down a pit.
Read more »
NFL Teams Up With Amazon to Release Licensed Echo Pop SpeakersTravis Kelce's team gets a tech makeover with the official Kansas City Chiefs bluetooth speaker. Besides being able to connect your smart device to the speaker to stream music, you can also ask Amazon's voice assistant, Alexa, for info on your team's record, control smart home devices and order snacks and items from Amazon.
Read more »
Amazon’s Choice Echo Pop Returns to Lowest Price for Early Black FridayGrab one of these colorful smart speakers for anywhere in your home at the best price we've ever seen.
Read more »
Amazon’s Echo Spot alarm clock is on sale with a free color smart bulbAmazon’s Echo Spot is available with a Globe Electric smart bulb for $49.99 at Amazon. You can also currently save on the Fitbit Charge 6 and Samsung’s Music Frame speaker.
Read more »
Amazon's Echo Dot hits a record low of $23 thanks to this Prime Day dealWill Shanklin has been writing about gadgets, tech and their impact on humanity since 2011. Before joining Engadget, he spent five years creating and leading the mobile technology section for New Atlas. His work has also appeared on SlashGear, TechRadar, Digital Trends, AppleInsider, Android Central, HuffPost and others.
Read more »