Amazon is redesigning its virtual assistant, Alexa, to incorporate generative artificial intelligence (AI) for enhanced functionality.
The redesign began two years ago, coinciding with the launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT. Rohit Prasad, head of Amazon's general AI team, stated that several technical challenges must be overcome before the new version is released. These include minimizing 'hallucinations'—fabricated responses—and improving response speed and reliability.
The goal is to evolve Alexa from performing simple tasks like playing music and setting alarms to offering personalized services, such as recommending restaurants and adjusting room lighting based on individual sleep cycles.
While competitors like Microsoft, Google, and Meta have already integrated generative AI into their services, Amazon faces challenges in merging simpler, predefined algorithms with more powerful, yet unpredictable, language models.
Prasad emphasized that the extensive range of services integrated into Alexa complicates the process, as these applications handle billions of requests weekly, necessitating reliable and cost-effective solutions.