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Amazon Announces Alexa With Generative AI, New Echo Devices, eero Max 7 With Wi-Fi 7 Support and More

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Amazon today hosted an event to introduce a range of new devices and services across its brands, from an updated version of the Alexa voice assistant to new Echo, Ring, and Eero products.

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Amazon previewed a future version of Alexa, which is based on generative AI to compete with OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Microsoft’s Bing, Google’s Bard, and more. Amazon says that its large language model has been optimized for voice interactions, and it will make conversing with Alexa feel more like speaking with a human.

If you say “Alexa, I’m cold,” for example, Alexa will know to turn up the temperature. Amazon is using these new capabilities to make it easier to create routines and provide Alexa with multiple commands at one time. Other new Alexa features that are coming include an option to detect brightness level and activity in a room to determine whether to turn the lights on or off, real-time translation capabilities for audio and video calls, emergency assistance functionality, and an “Explore” feature that lets children ask Alexa for more information about a topic.

As for the Echo, Amazon introduced the Echo Show 8, its smart home hub and video device. It has a new design, faster processor, and improved audio, plus support for Adaptive Content that changes based on the user’s proximity to the device. The Echo Hub is a new Alexa-powered smart home control panel for managing connected home devices, and the Echo Pop Kids is a new smart speaker for children.

Amazon also introduced next-generation Echo Frames with built-in Alexa capabilities. The new Echo Frames are slimmer, less heavy, and offer more battery life and extra bass. Amazon also has the Carrera Smart Glasses, which are the same Alexa glasses but with designs created by Carrera Eyewear.

There are several new Fire Tablets and Fire TV devices, along with a new AI-powered Search function that combines generative AI with the Fire TV entertainment catalog. Users can ask Alexa questions about TV shows and movies and get content recommendations. An interesting AI feature also allows users to create artwork and personalized backgrounds on the Fire TV using an AI Art feature that integrates with Alexa.

The new Ring Stick Up Cam Pro has radar-based 3D Motion Detection for better alert accuracy. There are battery, plug-in, and solar options, so it can be placed anywhere, and sound has been improved with Audio+.

Amazon today also announced the eero Max 7, its first Wi-Fi 7 mesh system. According to Amazon, the eero Max 7 offers dramatically increased speeds, less interference from neighboring networks, and improved mesh latency.

More information about all of Amazon’s releases can be found on the Amazon website.

Article Link: Amazon Announces Alexa With Generative AI, New Echo Devices, eero Max 7 With Wi-Fi 7 Support and More
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2023/09/20/amazon-alexa-generative-ai/
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macduke

macduke

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Jun 27, 2007
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I will still never forgive Amazon for turning Eero into a completely garbage product. I've never had more problems with a single piece of technology than I did with the Eero Pro 6E, and I tried multiple replacement units, had them reverting firmware updates, everything. Went through hell with support for months.
 
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ebika

ebika

macrumors 6502a
Nov 17, 2008
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I had an Echo Show on my nightstand, hoping it would be a nice alarm, clock, photo viewer, and weather viewer machine. While it does do those things, I ended up unplugging it. Two fatal flaws (for me) is that the LCD "black" background never got dark enough, and it pesters me CONSTANTLY with ads for things I don't want, like children's jokes, suggestions to buy random things on Amazon, etc. You can't turn that content off either. It just became too much. I still use the Echo Dots, and Standby on my iPhone is going to be my new clock-radio.

Also, what the crap? $1700 for an Eero 7 3-pack? Are they insane?
 
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Boeingfan

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Dec 16, 2019
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Australia
I have 3 spherical echo dots spread throughout the house and I love them. I also have the ring stick up battery cam with the solar panel which works great. If I could change anything, it would be allowing the video to sync with my Synology NAS rather than the Ring Cloud subscription, but que sera sera.

The Google Home app is far better than Amazon's, I will say that, but their products never appealed to me after the 2 Google Home Hub's I had developed a fault and Google were dreadful to deal with. Sadly the Apple Home app and products have been a joke from the beginning, so the echo dots stood out as the most capable and best value for me.
 
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ikramerica

ikramerica

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ebika said:
I had an Echo Show on my nightstand, hoping it would be a nice alarm, clock, photo viewer, and weather viewer machine. While it does do those things, I ended up unplugging it. Two fatal flaws (for me) is that the LCD "black" background never got dark enough, and it pesters me CONSTANTLY with ads for things I don't want, like children's jokes, suggestions to buy random things on Amazon, etc. You can't turn that content off either. It just became too much. I still use the Echo Dots, and Standby on my iPhone is going to be my new clock-radio.

Also, what the crap? $1700 for an Eero 7 3-pack? Are they insane?
Click to expand...
I paid much less for 5x eero 6+ instead. Works very well.

What use case is wifi 7?
 
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kjvmartin

macrumors 6502
Oct 11, 2016
320
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Detroit
We're an Apple household. I've always been an Apple guy.

We sometimes have to suffer through not having certain tech integrated into our lives, since Apple is usually late to the party. AI is going to mature and develop at Amazon, MS, Google.

Apple usually shows up to the party late, but best dressed. Looking forward to the day when Siri hopefully has the same functionality as ChatGPT but with the privacy I've come to expect from Apple.
 
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Sorinut

Sorinut

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Feb 26, 2015
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I just upgraded to WiFi 6 last year, with the Eero 6. It's the most stable my network has ever been.

I'm not even going to think about upgrading routers again for another SEVERAL years.. plus I hear the newer ones are buggy.

WiFi 7? What's the use case?
 
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Resident Guru

macrumors regular
Jul 11, 2008
101
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Sorinut said:
I just upgraded to WiFi 6 last year, with the Eero 6. It's the most stable my network has ever been.

I'm not even going to think about upgrading routers again for another SEVERAL years.. plus I hear the newer ones are buggy.

WiFi 7? What's the use case?
Click to expand...
I love my Eero Pro 6e. Incredibly stable. I'll get this new one on a deep sale as I want the multi-gigabit wired setup these have. Amazon routinely has their Eero systems on heavy discount.
 
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PantherKang

PantherKang

macrumors member
Apr 18, 2023
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Baritone_Guy said:
You might look at Ubiquiti or Synology.
Click to expand...
I'm waiting for Ubiquiti to update their "Amplifi" consumer line with at least Wi-Fi 6E and/or 7. I'm sure the CEO Robert Pera has his people working on that, since he was integral at Apple once upon a time. Those Synology devices look great as well.
 
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