Evercore ISI senior general manager Mark Mahaney argues that the “fundamentals” of Amazon’s shares are improving and continuing to increase.
“Alexa, sing this song like Grandma did.”
Amazon announced on Wednesday, June 22 that it could soon include voices imitating customers ’dead relatives in its Alexa products.
Rohit Prasad, Amazon’s senior vice president and chief scientist of Alexa, said during Wednesday’s announcement in Las Vegas that the feature is part of a larger initiative to generate human empathy.
Amazon announced the arrival of a new feature, which could allow it to “hear” the voices of its deceased relatives. (iStock)
With so many lives lost during the pandemic, Amazon believes this feature will help establish and maintain connections with those who are no longer on Earth.
“These attributes have become even more important during the ongoing pandemic, when many of us have lost the ones we love,” Prasad said during the event, the Associated Press reported this week.
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“While Al can’t remove that pain from the loss, he can definitely make his memories last,” he also said.
Soon Amazon may allow users to “listen” to old relatives. (Reuters / Carl Recine)
While this feature is not yet accessible on Amazon’s Alexa, Amazon said this is something the company is exploring due to recent advances in text-to-speech technology.
Nate Michel, a spokesman for Amazon, told Fox News Digital on Friday about the announcement: “We have learned to produce a high-quality voice with much less data compared to recording hours in a professional studio,” he said. to say.
While this may seem like a nostalgic and desirable feature to some, others may be less enthusiastic.
Amazon is receiving mixed reviews about its latest ad for Alexa. (Photo AP / Bebeto Matthews, file)
David Kessler, author and grief expert in Los Angeles, California, spoke with Fox News Digital about the potential effects this could have on someone who may be grieving the loss of loved ones.
“Some may find it comforting. Others may find it disturbing,” he said.
“I think it has the potential to complicate the mourning process for some,” he also said.
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Kessler said continuing the “bonds” with those who have passed is healthy.
“Whether Alexa will be a good embodiment of this, we don’t know [yet]”He said.
On social media, responses to the ad have been mostly skeptical.
A Twitter user wrote, “No, Alexa. Please don’t.”
Another said, “I can’t figure out if this is bright or creepy!”
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The Associated Press helped report this article.