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Amazon introduces next-gen of Echo smart devices with new-age AI

Amazon has introduced a new line-up of Echo smart speakers with more intuitive Alexa experiences which can understand conversational phrases…

Amazon introduces next-gen of Echo smart devices with new-age AI

Amazon introduces next-gen of Echo smart devices with new-age AI

Amazon has introduced a new line-up of Echo smart speakers with more intuitive Alexa experiences which can understand conversational phrases and respond appropriately with the help of AI.

The company showcased next-generation Echo Show 8, all-new Echo Hub and new Echo Frames at its fall hardware event late on Wednesday.

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Amazon also collaborated with Safilo, one of the world’s leading eyewear manufacturers, to blend the power of Alexa with iconic Carrera designs.

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“These new Echo devices give customers more ways to experience the world’s best personal AI — and the growing generative AI capabilities that will be coming to Alexa soon — at home and on the go,” said Daniel Rausch, vice president of Alexa and Fire TV.

The new Echo Show 8 has been upgraded inside and out. It also runs a new model enabling Alexa to process common smart home requests locally for 40 per cent faster responses to common requests, such as turning on a smart light, switch, or plug.

Video calls are better with a centred 13-megapixel camera, plus an enhanced audio pipeline which minimises background noise from around the home.

Echo Show 8 also features Adaptive Content — a new home screen experience that uses on-device computer vision technology to adjust on-screen content based on a customer’s proximity to the device, said the company.

Echo Show 8 is available in Glacier White and Charcoal for $149.99 and will begin shipping on October 25.

Also coming this fall is Echo Show 8 Photos Edition, which unlocks a photo-forward mode on Echo Show 8’s high-resolution screen.

The Photos Edition experience makes customer-selected personal photos the primary rotating content on the ambient screen.

Photos rotate every 30-seconds and customers receive 25 GB of storage from Amazon Photos. The Echo Show 8 Photos Edition is available for $159.99 and includes a six-month PhotosPlus subscription which will renew after six months for $1.99 per month, and can be cancelled at any time.

Echo Hub is Amazon’s first smart home control panel that makes connecting and managing smart devices intuitive, that costs $179.99 and will be available later this year.

It features a thin, eight-inch, touch-enabled display with a customizable smart home dashboard.

With Adaptive Content, Echo Hub uses infrared technology to detect when someone is nearby, and naturally transitions from a home screen with a beautiful clock, to the smart home control screen, the company said.

The Echo Frames and Carrera Smart Glasses introduce seven new frame styles, reimagined audio design, long-lasting battery, and hands-free access to Alexa, and start at $269.99.

Amazon also introduced enhanced conversational voice search with generative AI, upgrades to the Fire TV Ambient Experience, and the most powerful Fire TV Sticks yet — the all-new Fire TV Stick 4K Max, now with the Fire TV Ambient Experience, and Fire TV Stick 4K.

All-new Fire TV Stick 4K delivers Fire TV Stick’s best performance for under $50, with nearly 30 per cent more power than the previous generation, plus support for Wi-Fi 6.

In addition, Amazon announced the all-new Fire TV Soundbar, enabling customers to enjoy their favourite TV shows, movies, and games with room-filling sound.

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