At Amazon’s Re:Mars conference in Las Vegas, the company showcased a new feature for its Alexa voice assistant. This feature, which is still in development, allows Alexa to imitate any voice, including that of a deceased family member. The demonstration video showed a child asking Alexa to have their grandma read them a story, and Alexa responded with a more human-like tone, mimicking the family member’s voice. Amazon aims to make conversing with Alexa more natural and has been working on various features to replicate human-like dialogue. The development of this technology is particularly relevant during the Covid-19 pandemic, as it offers a way to preserve and cherish memories of lost loved ones.
| Signal | Change | 10y horizon | Driving force |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexa voice assistant can emulate any voice | Ability for Alexa to replicate human voice | Users can speak to deceased family members through Alexa | Desire to memorialize deceased loved ones |
| Amazon developing a way for users to speak to deceased family members through Alexa | Integration of deceased loved ones into conversations | Alexa becomes a medium for connecting with the deceased | Desire for emotional connection and memories |
| Alexa replicates specific human voices | More realistic and human-like voice replication | Alexa can mimic the voice of family members | Enhancing user experience and emotional connection |
| Alexa can produce high-quality voice with minimal audio input | Improved voice synthesis technology | More accurate and convincing voice replication | Advancements in artificial intelligence |
| Amazon focusing on making AI conversational and companion-like | More natural and engaging interactions with AI | AI becomes a companion for emotional support | Meeting the needs of users and societal changes |
| Alexa asking user questions for more human-like dialogue | AI with conversational and interactive abilities | Alexa becomes a more interactive and engaging assistant | Enhancing user experience and natural interactions |