Amazon introduced a number of new connected gadgets today, along with some new Alexa capabilities that customers will be able to utilize. By far the most intriguing is the new privacy capabilities coming to the newest Alexa devices. Customers in the US will soon be able to instruct Alexa to execute all of their voice commands. This implies that these audio snippets will not be transmitted to the cloud and will be destroyed immediately once the Alexa device processes them.
The new feature appears to be limited to the most recent Echo units equipped with the AZ1 Neural Edge processor. According to Amazon, the feature will first be accessible on the 4th-generation Echo and the Echo Show 10, and will then be expanded to other devices.
The majority of the new Alexa features are exclusive to Amazon’s smart displays, such as the new Echo Show 15. To begin, Sling TV will soon be available on all Echo Show devices, adding to Amazon’s already extensive selection of streaming services. Next, Echo devices equipped with cameras will be able to use Visual ID, a feature that allows Alexa to recognize you while you are in the field of vision of the camera. Knowing who is in front of the camera allows the device’s display to provide personalized information such as calendar notifications and TV show preferences. It’s essential to remember that you must enroll in Visual ID; it’s not an automated feature, and you may deactivate your Visual ID at any moment.
Amazon is also rebranding Care Hub, which links caregivers and their loved ones through the Alexa app and compatible devices, as a new subscription service called Alexa Together. This allows caregivers to check in on people remotely and set up features like alerts, emergency contact information, and more. It contains features such as Urgent Response, which connects you to a professional emergency assistance line, and Remote Assist, which allows caregivers to set reminders, connect music services, and more to make life simpler for their loved ones. Alexa Together will be available later this year for $20 per month, with current Care Hub users receiving a free year of service. Finally, Amazon collaborated with Disney to introduce a new voice assistant to its smart devices. “Hey, Disney” is the entertainment company’s personal assistant, which is based on Amazon’s Alexa technology. In addition to allowing users to speak with characters from the Disney universe, the new assistant will be able to set timers, reminders, check the weather, and do other things. The “Hey, Disney” assistant will be accessible on Echo devices in Walt Disney World Resort hotel rooms in 2022, and it will be available for purchase through the Alexa Skills store.
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