Category: smart speaker
NatWest trials voice banking with Google Assistant
Banking on your voice could become the new way to check accounts if a NatWest trial using the Google Assistant proves to be on the money. The bank is launching a trial using the voice-powered virtual helper, allowing customers to ask the Google Home smart speaker for details such as their bank balance or recent…
Sport Social football news service launches for smart speakers
A new smart speaker tool is to enable football fans to hear the latest news from all 20 Premier League clubs when they ask their virtual assistant for updates. The service, named Sport Social, is to launch on August 10 for both Amazon’s Alexa and the Google Assistant, during the opening weekend of the Premier…
Amazon Alexa users ‘allowed to opt out of human reviews’
Amazon has given virtual assistant users the option to opt out of having human reviewers listen to their voice recordings. It has also pledged to provide clearer information on its recording review practices. However, the technology giant will not follow Apple and Google in suspending the practice of using human reviewers to analyse some recordings.…
Apple suspends humans ‘grading’ recordings
Apple has suspended the practice of having human contractors listen to Siri recordings after concerns were raised about user privacy. A report by The Guardian last week revealed the company used the programme to listen to a small number of recordings from the voice assistant to grade them. The report said contractors had regularly heard…
Alexa gains free ad-supported Amazon Music
Devices using Alexa in the UK can access a selection of free ad-supported music from Amazon Music, as competition against the likes of Spotify heats up. The tech firm said it is making playlists and stations available to users at no extra cost, marking Amazon’s first step into free music streaming funded by advertising. People…
Now Google admits listening to your smart speaker recordings
Following Amazon's admission that Alexa listens to your recordings, Google too has now said it gives workers access to audio recordings from its Google Home smart speakers. The technology giant said it uses language experts around the world to study a small number of audio “snippets” from users. Google said this work helps with developing…
‘Alexa: What medical problem do I have?’ Smart speaker tie-up with NHS
Amazon’s Alexa is set to answer people’s health queries by searching the official NHS website. Until now, people asking Alexa a health question would be given an answer based on a variety of popular responses. But a new partnership with the NHS means Alexa will now give answers based on information from the health service…
Amazon Echo Wall Clock on sale in UK for £29.99
Amazon’s smart Echo wall clock, which can be used to track multiple alarms and timers when connected to a smart speaker, has been launched in the UK. First released in the US last year, the Echo Wall Clock connects to an Amazon Echo smart speaker and uses built-in LED lights which run around the edge…
Smart speakers could be used to detect cardiac arrest, say researchers
Researchers at the University of Washington have come up with an early test AI-powered tool which could be used on smart speakers and even smartphones to listen out for the unique breathing sounds associated with cardiac arrest, and then alert emergency services. People suffering with sudden cardiac arrest initially struggle with irregular gasps of breath,…
Smart speaker users want emergency services call feature despite privacy concerns
Smart speaker owners would like to use their devices to call the emergency services, despite many also being concerned they could be used to spy on them, new research suggests. The Unisys Security Index survey found that almost half (49%) of Britons would like smart speakers such as the Amazon Echo or Google Home to…
