Microsoft gives up on Cortana as an Alexa rival, now views assistant as cross-platform skill Microsoft no longer views Cortana as a competitor to the Google Assistant or Amazon’s Alexa, and the priority has changed… Read More
Amazon Alexa now does her best ‘newscaster’ impression when reading the headlines Is that you, Walter Cronkite? Amazon unveiled a feature that alters Alexa’s voice to imitate the way broadcast news anchors… Read More
Amazon Alexa vs. Google Assistant, Round 2: Digital assistants duke it out in the desert LAS VEGAS — Sin City has served as the backdrop to some of the most famous bouts and rematches in… Read More
The world’s first e-bike with Amazon’s Alexa built in LAS VEGAS — The first ever electric bicycle with Amazon’s digital assistant built in made its public debut at CES… Read More
Amazon reveals number of Alexa devices sold as smart speaker competition heats up Amazon says more than 100 million Alexa-powered devices have been sold, a figure that shows the company’s early lead in… Read More
GeekWire Calendar Picks: CES set to exhibit the latest on 5G, AI and more Don’t look now, but 2019 is almost here. Hope you had a refreshing break, because the new year, as it… Read More
Podcast Geared Up: Alexa from end to end, a hot-selling Elon Musk keepsake, and more crazy moments of 2018 A voice-activated microwave. A smart toilet. And a flamethrower … not. Those products represent a handful of the highlights for… Read More
Amazon is crowdsourcing Alexa’s ability to answer questions, says safeguards will keep out offensive content Amazon is enlisting customers to help make its digital brain Alexa better at answering questions. The tech giant today unveiled… Read More
Taps for Amazon Tap? Groundbreaking portable Alexa speaker disappears from Amazon Amazon has apparently — and quietly — silenced its Amazon Tap smart speaker. The portable Alexa device is not being… Read More
‘Not your father’s Big Mouth Billy Bass’: Amazon’s Alexa now comes out of the novelty fish’s lips Hoo boy, look what we done caught in the inter-net. Big Mouth Billy Bass, the flopping, singing, plastic sensation mounted… Read More
My parents are wowed by Amazon, LimeBikes and more as longtime visitors return to big, new Seattle Getting together with family during the holidays — especially with members who visit from across the country — is a… Read More
Alexa, heat up our leftovers: GeekWire gives Amazon’s new voice-controlled microwave a spin Amazon’s digital assistant Alexa boasts more than 50,000 skills, and one of its newest is microwave chef. That’s thanks to… Read More
Amazon releases new tools to help device makers build Alexa into bluetooth products Amazon just made it easier for makers of bluetooth devices such as headsets and smart watches to build in the… Read More
Skype calling comes to Alexa devices, furthering Amazon and Microsoft’s surprising partnership Skype audio and video calling is now available on Alexa-powered devices, the latest integration to come out of the alliance… Read More
A talking white board? Alexa for Business extends to non-Echo devices for workplace environments As part of its continuing effort to make the intelligent voice assistant Alexa available everywhere, Amazon has announced that third-party… Read More
Voice-first, AI, AR: Three technologies race to again change how we shop Ecommerce is known for its waves of innovation. From the rise of pure-plays to the advent of multi-channel and subscription… Read More
TLDR: Microsoft partners with Indian cricket legend on smart bat Today’s featured stories Microsoft partners with Indian cricket legend to develop a smart bat that tracks live analytics Alexa and… Read More
Alexa and Cortana can now control Xbox devices as new ‘skill’ for digital assistants rolls out broadly Amazon’s virtual brain Alexa and Microsoft’s Cortana can now turn on Xbox devices, launch games, take screenshots and more under… Read More
Plug-and-pray no more: Amazon’s new smart plug for Alexa is a gift from the smart-home gods “New plug named First plug found. To control it, say ‘Alexa, turn on First plug.’ “ My jaw dropped when… Read More
Voice tech localization startup Jargon wins GeekWire-Ubiquity prize at Amazon’s Alexa Accelerator It’s been a whirlwind past few months for the entrepreneurs behind Jargon, but Tuesday evening marked a high note after… Read More
The top pitches from Amazon’s Alexa Accelerator as startups push boundaries of voice tech “Alexa, please ask the audience to take their seats.” Between bad Alexa jokes and innovative ideas pitched on stage, the… Read More
Turn up the tunes: Despite clever gimmicks, music still reigns king on smart speakers It seems like smart assistants are learning new tricks every day, from cooking microwave popcorn to helping users get flu… Read More
Amazon Alexa Fund invests in Bamboo Learning as startup introduces screen-friendly Alexa math skill Seattle education startup Bamboo Learning is previewing its second Alexa skill at the same time it’s announcing an investment from… Read More
New Alexa skill from Seattle and Boston children’s hospitals takes on flu season Kids already have a lot of AI friends to chat with, whether they’re asking Siri to play their favorite song… Read More
Alexa, who has the best pitch? GeekWire teams up with VC firm for Amazon Alexa Accelerator prize For the past several years, I’ve watched entrepreneurs give polished pitches at Techstars Demo Day and picked my favorites. This… Read More
TLDR: Amazon unveils Alexa-enabled microwave Today’s featured stories Here’s everything Amazon announced today, from a microwave to a subwoofer to new Alexa capabilities ‘Alexa, cook… Read More
Here’s everything Amazon announced Thursday, from microwave to subwoofer to Alexa capabilities Microwave. Subwoofer. Smart plug. In-car device. Those are just a handful of the new devices Amazon debuted on Thursday as… Read More
Amazon’s new tools for third-party developers will put Alexa on even more screens Developers interested in building their own array of Alexa-powered devices will have some new tools to work with thanks to… Read More
Commentary: Alexa, stop! Amazon’s smart home just sounds more and more like a lazy home I have three Amazon Echo Dot devices in my home, which is kind of an ironic admission to make at… Read More
Amazon reveals flurry of new devices as tech giant aims to get Alexa inside homes and cars Amazon today unveiled 13 brand new devices, some expected, others surprising, as the tech giant continues its quest to put… Read More
