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from the And-microwaves-that-turn-into-cameras,-et-cetera.-So-we-know-that-that-is-just-a-fact-of-modern-life dept.
Amazon is doubling down on its Alexa-powered devices, with plans to release at least 8 new voice-controlled hardware devices before the end of the year, CNBC has learned.
The devices include, among others, a microwave oven, an amplifier, a receiver, a subwoofer, and an in-car gadget, people familiar with the matter said. All of the devices will be Alexa-enabled, meaning they can easily connect to the voice assistant. Some of the devices will also have Alexa built in.
Amazon is expected to reveal some of these devices at an event later this month, according to an internal document describing the plans.
The new devices reflect Amazon's ambition to make its Alexa voice technology ubiquitous by focusing on areas where people spend most of their time — at home and in the car. Alexa was initially considered a geeky experiment at Amazon. Now it is now one of the most popular voice assistants, leading the growth of the burgeoning smart speaker market, which is expected to be worth $30 billion by 2024, according to Global Market Insights.
Alexa-"powered" microwave ovens would be among the first consumer "AI" devices with the ability to harm small animals or babies.
Also at The Verge.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 18 2018, @08:39PM (7 children)
More invasion, more cost, more things to break. Just because you can do it, does not mean it should be done.
My microwave needs to cook food, not be on the internet or order dinner for me when it thinks i'm hungry. Nor does it need to report back to Amazon what i just ate. Its a freaking food cooking device.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 18 2018, @09:05PM (1 child)
It's not your needs they're trying to satisfy.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Wednesday September 19 2018, @02:25AM
But they'll be happy to take your money.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Tuesday September 18 2018, @09:09PM
I dunno, a toilet that knew I had a sense of humor and did things like start playing Feed Me Seymour [youtube.com] when I sat down wouldn't entirely suck. I'd probably get bored with it after a week or three though and drag a hot wall voltage wire across the more delicate electronics as a subtle hint to STFU though.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Tuesday September 18 2018, @09:22PM (2 children)
Why bother to take a picture of your food to post on $SocialTrap ? Now your microwave will do it for you automatically !
(Score: 2) by deimtee on Tuesday September 18 2018, @11:39PM (1 child)
I really don't want the ideas in your post and TMB's sibling post combined.
If you cough while drinking cheap red wine it really cleans out your sinuses.
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Tuesday September 18 2018, @11:44PM
You must be new to this internet thing. Ever heard of Rule 34 ?
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Wednesday September 19 2018, @06:09PM
It's also a food re-ordering device.
And it takes commands, like "cook popcorn", and knows the correct timer value for popcorn.
And it can tell you jokes.
And when you ask it to cook something, it can suggest local places that could deliver food to you instead. It can even insist on this, for your own good.
My favorite Alexa query used to be: What movies came out in 1995? But alas, they fixed it. It once would go on and on what seemed like forever.
The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.