My favorite one: Me: Alexa, set up an alarm for 2 minutes Alexa: Two minutes. [Two minutes later] Alexa: Beep beep beep Me: Alexa, thank you! Alexa: You are welcome... Beep beep beep... Edit: formatting
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Alexa isn’t the future of AI–it’s a glorified radio clock, and stupid otherwise
21–30 of 85 posts
Re: Alexa isn’t the future of AI–it’s a glorified radio clock, and stupid otherwise
#22Alexa is a voice interface, and a pretty good one at that. I use it primarily for home automation and it works pretty well for that. There is not much intelligence behind it in that regard, but it's very good at recognizing commands, which is what is needed.
The voice recognition is good, but the interface is completely independent of Alexa. The interface is spawned from a group of people brainstorming all the different ways someone can ask to turn on the lights, and then figuring out the ways to deal with all the different inputs. I'm not sure how common the knowledge is around making an Alexa skill, but I made one as a side project so I might have some insight. You def…
Things like Alexa skills existed before Alexa. The magic Amazon added was the hardware + API that was a step ahead of what was there before. Siri by comparison is not as good precisely because the microphones are not as good.
Re: Alexa isn’t the future of AI–it’s a glorified radio clock, and stupid otherwise
#23I don't get this rant. Alexa is still bleeding edge. It does some things really well. It does some things really poorly. There are lots of things it can't do. So the main complaint is that Alexa could be better, your point..?
To me, right now it excels as an interface when you are busy doing something else. Ours is used most in the kitchen and living room. Timers, streaming music/audio and basic facts all work great. Home automation is improving and will get there as systems learn to play nice. That seems like a lot for $50, but maybe that's just me...
The killer app hasn't been created yet (and possibly not even envisioned). I can't wait until they are connected and I can issue a command to move streaming from one device to another one in another room ("Alexa, pause for Jim", "Alexa, continue for Jim").
I think the biggest downside of voice UI right now is a lack of authentication. Someone outside the window could yell "Alexa, open the door".
Re: Alexa isn’t the future of AI–it’s a glorified radio clock, and stupid otherwise
#24I don't get the fascination with this tech. The computer in Star Trek at least had a personality and intonation in its voice when it responded, even though it sounded like a synthesized voice. The key here is intonation -- the infinitely varying way in which we vary the speed and pitch of our voices in response to another human being. It's very subtle and something Amaazon, Google and Siri have been unable to capture…
I understand what you mean, but for me, she has developed something of a personality. It is kind of a bumbling but well intentioned friend. Similar to my Roomba which is not the best at what he does, but keeps on trying (i.e. bumping futilely into the same walls).
Re: Alexa isn’t the future of AI–it’s a glorified radio clock, and stupid otherwise
#25I don't get the fascination with this tech. The computer in Star Trek at least had a personality and intonation in its voice when it responded, even though it sounded like a synthesized voice. The key here is intonation -- the infinitely varying way in which we vary the speed and pitch of our voices in response to another human being. It's very subtle and something Amaazon, Google and Siri have been unable to capture…
Google Home is starting to get there, especially in the games where the total set of commands and responses is much lower. It definitely has room to grow, but it'll get there given time. VR was terrible in the 90s, now it's breathtaking.
Re: Alexa isn’t the future of AI–it’s a glorified radio clock, and stupid otherwise
#26Re: Alexa isn’t the future of AI–it’s a glorified radio clock, and stupid otherwise
#27I don't get this rant. Alexa is still bleeding edge. It does some things really well. It does some things really poorly. There are lots of things it can't do. So the main complaint is that Alexa could be better, your point..? To me, right now it excels as an interface when you are busy doing something else. Ours is used most in the kitchen and living room. Timers, streaming music/audio and basic facts all work great.…
> I can't wait until they are connected and I can issue a command to move streaming from one device to another one in another room
Google Home can do this to a degree today. You are capable of saying things like "Play X on my TV." if your TV is wired up with a ChromeCast.
In general, Google Home is very far ahead of Alexa. I agree with the opinion that Alexa is a glorified radio, but I don't believe that opinion extends to all devices in that class. I think its just because Alexa is overrated and not very powerful.
Re: Alexa isn’t the future of AI–it’s a glorified radio clock, and stupid otherwise
#28I have an Amazon Echo in every room of my house, and I use it to control home automation, such as all of my lights, my ecobee thermostat, and my entire home theater (via a logitech harmony). I even use it to switch on and off my humidifier and space heater (and manage the temperature). My wife and I also use it to manage my shopping list (via the OurGroceries skill/app). I can use it to remote start my car and prehea…
Isn't it easier just to do that stuff with your hands?
Re: Alexa isn’t the future of AI–it’s a glorified radio clock, and stupid otherwise
#29I don't get the fascination with this tech. The computer in Star Trek at least had a personality and intonation in its voice when it responded, even though it sounded like a synthesized voice. The key here is intonation -- the infinitely varying way in which we vary the speed and pitch of our voices in response to another human being. It's very subtle and something Amaazon, Google and Siri have been unable to capture…
I think the value of these systems is when you have your hands full, or when getting out your phone or other UI is not convenient.
"Alexa, turn on the lights".
"Alexa, let the cat out".
"Alexa, did I lock the door?"
As soon as there are enough of these, it'll take off because it'll be useful. None of these things need real intelligence. Sure, intonation won't be great. But the convenience will override the imperfection.
Re: Alexa isn’t the future of AI–it’s a glorified radio clock, and stupid otherwise
#30I only got the Dot a couple of weeks ago and for me it's worth the $50 just for playing music. Anyone who thinks it is a "glorified radio clock" might want to just take some time to think about exactly what it's doing. I'm kind of amazed by it.