The virtual assistant developed by Amazon and known as Alexa has updated its functions and introduced the possibility of translating and subtitling calls. It provides easier access to favorites via a ‘widget’, as well as providing advanced options for activating routines.
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Alexa now has the ability to translate voice and video calls in real time. While this tool is available to all users of the assistant, it was specifically developed with hearing-impaired or deaf people in mind to enhance their communication experience.
Amazon said in a statement that the new translation feature will support more than ten languages, including English, Spanish, French, Portuguese and German.
Additionally, a subtitle option and Pop-Up functionality for calls has also been integrated, allowing people to follow conversations in real-time through subtitles. These will be visible on Alexa-compatible devices, either via the relevant ‘app’ or on the Echo Show screen.
Towards the end of the year, users will be able to activate routines in a variety of ways. For example, they can create a nightly routine that turns off the lights, lowers the blinds, and plays soothing sounds by simply saying “Alexa, good night” or programming it to automatically activate at 10 p.m. each day.
A new ‘widget’ called ‘Primary Contacts’ will also be introduced on Echo Show screens at the end of the year, It gives you easier access to your contacts and favorite devices to make a call or use the Dropdown function with just one click.
Along the same lines, the Quick Actions widget, available for Echo Show 8 and 10 and, after an update, for Echo Show 5, will allow users to add shortcut icons at the top of the devices’ home screen, thus optimizing access to content. and eliminating the need to navigate between different screens or subpanels.
In short, these new features not only enrich Alexa’s capabilities, but also aim to provide more inclusive and accessible communication tools for everyone, with special attention to those who are hard of hearing.
Amazon has been using generative artificial intelligence (AI) with Alexa in the background for years to improve the accuracy of its responses. It has integrated the most advanced and largest-scale language model in recent times, allowing Alexa to deliver not only accurate but also smarter, conversational responses.
At the Amazon Devices & Services event, it was emphasized that Alexa can now participate in conversations in an “almost human” way. The goal is to mimic human interaction, paying attention to what is being communicated, who is being addressed, and maintaining eye contact.
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Thanks to advances in computer vision and ambient intelligence, Alexa can interact in the real environment, not just on a server, and can do so in a personalized way for each user and family member individually or through shared preferences.
It was also revealed that he would have a distinctive personality, expressing his opinions, telling jokes, and offering surprises called ‘easter eggs’.
Amazon will provide creators with innovative tools based on the current language model to develop solutions for the virtual assistant. For example, Character.ai will offer 25 characters with expressive voices to customize dialogue, and Splash will allow the creation of up to two minutes of voice-recorded music.
Innovative environmental experiences will also be introduced. With Eye Gaze on Alexa, those who cannot communicate verbally or interact with screens will be able to select options on the Fire Max 11 tablet with eye movement. Additionally, Call Translations will facilitate multilingual conversations by providing support in multiple languages, including Spanish, French and Portuguese.
Finally, Alexa Emergency Assistance, an all-day subscription service that uses the assistant to manage Echo speakers and emergency calls, has been launched.
*This content was rewritten with the help of artificial intelligence, based on information published by Europa Press, and reviewed by a journalist and editor.
Source: Exame
