New Amazon Alexa to use Claude AI as Amazon's own AI struggled: Report

The upcoming version of the Alexa voice assistant will use Claude AI from Anthropic, the startup Amazon invested $4 billion into last year

Published on: Sep 1, 2024, 15:07:57 IST

By HT News Desk | Edited by Abhyjith K. Ashokan

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Amazon's improved version of Alexa that is slated to be launched this year will be powered by AI startup Anthropic’s Claude AI model according to a Reuters report, which added that this is because Amazon's in-house AI proved insufficient and struggled with words and responding to prompts.

The new Alexa version, called “Remarkable Alexa,” has seen numerous issues, since its announcement last September (Pixabay)

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What were the issues faced by Amazon when it comes to AI?

The new Alexa version, called “Remarkable Alexa,” has seen numerous issues, since its announcement last September, with former machine learning scientist for Alexa AI Mihail Eric stating on a post on X that the division was “riddled with technical and bureaucratic problems.”

Amazon had invested $4 billion into Anthropic last year for a minority stake, but this led to UK competition regulators to investigate it.

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Amazon's AI is also facing stiff competition from OpenAI’s Advanced Voice Mode for ChatGPT, Google Gemini’s voice chat mode, and Siri’s upcoming Apple Intelligence update.

“Amazon uses many different technologies to power Alexa,” Reuters quoted Amazon as saying. “When it comes to machine learning models, we start with those built by Amazon, but we have used, and will continue to use, a variety of different models — including (Amazon AI model) Titan and future Amazon models, as well as those from partners — to build the best experience for customers.”

When is the new Alexa expected to be released and what would its new features be?

Remarkable Alexa is reportedly arriving sometime in mid-October, with a plethora of features including daily AI-generated news summaries, a child-focused chatbot, and conversational shopping tools, according to a report by The Washington Post.

It may be placed behind a $5-10 monthly subscription to make it profitable, but the current “Classic Alexa” will continue to be available as a free-to-use service.

The new Alexa's demo will be presented at Amazon’s annual devices and services event, which is usually held in September.

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HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

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