Tech

Amazon unveils smarter Alexa+ with generative-AI features

Amazon’s Alexa+ launches next month with enhanced generative-AI features, offering a more conversational and personalised experience for users.

Published

12 months ago

February 27, 2025

ticker NEWS

Amazon’s Alexa+ launches next month with enhanced generative-AI features, offering a more conversational and personalised experience for users.

In Short

Amazon will launch Alexa+ next month, featuring generative-AI improvements for enhanced conversation and smart home integration. The upgrade will be available for Prime subscribers or for $19.99, but concerns about accuracy and competition persist as Amazon seeks to monetise the technology.

Amazon is set to launch an upgraded version of its voice assistant, Alexa+, next month.

This upgrade introduces generative-AI features aimed at making Alexa “smarter and more conversational,” and will be available on most existing Echo and Fire TV devices, as well as via a new Alexa.com website and updated phone app.

The new features will be included with Amazon Prime subscriptions, while non-subscribers can access the service for $19.99.

During a recent live event, Amazon showcased how the updated Alexa can understand natural language. For instance, users can ask specific questions about songs or request actions such as reserving a restaurant or booking repairs for appliances.

Additionally, Alexa+ will integrate with smart home devices and retain user preferences to make personalized recommendations. It will be able to sift through footage from Ring security cameras and handle tasks like document analysis.

Tech

Zuckerberg testifies on social media addiction and child safety

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies in LA trial over claims that platforms are addictive and harmful to children.

Published

14 hours ago

February 19, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies in LA trial over claims that platforms are addictive and harmful to children.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is testifying at a landmark social media trial in Los Angeles, marking a pivotal moment in the debate over online child safety. Lawyers for the plaintiffs argue that Meta intentionally designed its platforms to be addictive, putting young users at risk.

This is the first time Zuckerberg has addressed concerns about child safety directly before a jury, with KGM’s case acting as one of around 20 test trials aimed at gauging how jurors respond to claims that social media companies knowingly fuel harmful engagement.

The outcome could set the tone for future litigation against tech giants and reshape how platforms are designed, regulated and held accountable.

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Tech

Apple unveils AI-powered wearables set to revolutionise tech by 2027

Apple unveils innovative AI-powered wearables, including smart glasses, a pendant, and camera-equipped AirPods, set to reshape ambient computing.

Published

2 days ago

February 18, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Apple unveils innovative AI-powered wearables, including smart glasses, a pendant, and camera-equipped AirPods, set to reshape ambient computing.

Apple is making a bold move into AI-powered wearables, developing three innovative devices designed to bring ambient computing to everyday life. From smart glasses to a futuristic pendant and camera-equipped AirPods, the tech giant is integrating these devices with an upgraded version of Siri to enhance user experience.

The smart glasses, slated for a 2027 launch, will feature dual cameras and rely heavily on voice interactions, aiming to compete directly with Meta’s leading smart glasses in the market. Meanwhile, the AI pendant is still in early development but promises to be a companion device for iPhone users.

Camera-equipped AirPods could arrive as early as this year, capturing environmental data to feed Apple’s growing AI ecosystem. With Meta’s smart glasses already dominating sales, Apple’s entry signals a fierce battle in wearable AI technology.

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Tech

Apple adds video podcasts with watch and listen features

Apple launches new video podcast experience with adaptive playback, dynamic ads, and free for creators.

Published

3 days ago

February 17, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Apple launches new video podcast experience with adaptive playback, dynamic ads, and free for creators.

Apple is stepping up its podcast game with a new integrated video experience launching this spring. The update will allow users to seamlessly switch between watching and listening, complete with picture-in-picture mode for uninterrupted multitasking.

The update also supports HLS for adaptive video playback and dynamic ad insertion, giving advertisers more flexibility while keeping distribution free for creators. This positions Apple Podcasts to better compete with Spotify, YouTube, and Netflix in the growing video podcast market.

As video podcasts gain traction worldwide, Apple aims to capture viewers who want a more interactive experience without paying creators fees, while ad networks benefit from expanded opportunities.

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