AMAZON
Amazon’s AI-powered Alexa upgrade won’t be launching as soon as expected.
Originally planned for a free trial this month, the updated assistant is now delayed until at least March 31, according to The Washington Post.
The reason was internal testing found it was giving inaccurate answers.
An anonymous Amazon employee said the delay is due to concerns over the assistant making mistakes in test responses.
The upgrade is expected to include features like remembering past conversations, adopting a personality, and even ordering takeout or taxis - possibly under a subscription model.
In brief:
Alexa’s AI upgrade is delayed until at least the end of March due to accuracy issues.
The update may add features like conversation memory and personality options, possibly as a paid service.
Apple’s Siri upgrade may also be postponed, while Google’s AI assistant remains ahead.
This isn’t the first delay. Amazon aimed to improve Alexa’s AI in late 2024, but early testers found it slow and unhelpful.
The company hasn’t commented on the latest setback.
Meanwhile, Apple’s Siri upgrade might also be delayed.
Bloomberg reports the AI improvements expected in iOS 18.4 could be scaled back or pushed to iOS 18.5, which may arrive in May.
Meanwhile, Google’s Gemini-powered assistant continues to expand, keeping it ahead in the AI race.
Amazon’s like, “We swear Alexa is getting smarter,” while beta testers are like, “She just told me 2+2=5.”