[NFB-Seniors-Discussion] Alexa now has three new AI skills - CHECK THIS OUT!-

Wed Jan 10 14:32:26 UTC 2024

Hi You All

Do read on down through this text. Looks doable and fun!

We can compare our experiences later..

RLN 
https://www.zdnet.com/article/alexa-just-got-three-new-generative-ai-skills-
heres-how-to-try-them/#ftag=RSSbaffb68

Alexa just got three new generative AI skills - here's how to try them

If you want to use artifical intelligence to make the most of Alexa, you're
in luck.

Jan. 10, 2024 at 1:02 a.m. PT

<https://www.zdnet.com/a/img/resize/3924d48639ef37060e96a61de67a8bd33187df4d
/2024/01/10/a04dfb09-e64b-4ddb-8a35-6f83e25f85dc/gettyimages-1498442399.jpg?
auto=webp&width=1280> 

Chesnot/Getty Images 

With
<https://www.zdnet.com/article/what-is-ai-heres-everything-you-need-to-know-
about-artificial-intelligence/> artifical intelligence (AI) a dominant theme
at this year's CES, Amazon has unveiled three new Alexa skills that all come
with a hefty helping of AI. Now accessible to all
<https://www.zdnet.com/home-and-office/home-entertainment/best-amazon-echo/>
Echo and Alexa users, the three skills are freely available through the
Alexa app as well as through the
<https://assoc-redirect.amazon.com/g/r/https:/www.amazon.com/alexa-skills/?t
ag=zd-buy-button-20&ascsubtag=__COM_CLICK_ID__%7C3c97af91-74be-45a6-8725-7f2
414d34181%7Cmwb> Alexa Skills website.

Also:
<https://www.zdnet.com/collection/ces-2024-whats-next-in-tech/#link={%22role
%22:%22standard%22,%22href%22:%22https://www.zdnet.com/collection/ces-2024-w
hats-next-in-tech/%22,%22target%22:%22%22,%22absolute%22:%22%22,%22linkText%
22:%22CES%202024:%20What's%20Next%20in%20Tech%22}> CES 2024: What's Next in
Tech

First on the list is a skill called
<https://assoc-redirect.amazon.com/g/r/https:/www.amazon.com/dp/B0CRSSBQ4L/r
ef=sr_1_1?crid=3QOE4BU3544FQ&keywords=character.ai&qid=1704827731&s=digital-
skills&sprefix=character.ai%2Calexa-skills%2C105&sr=1-1&tag=zd-buy-button-20
&ascsubtag=__COM_CLICK_ID__%7C3c97af91-74be-45a6-8725-7f2414d34181%7Cmwb>
Character.AI. Designed by the developers behind the
<https://beta.character.ai/> Character.AI website, this skill lets you chat
with a range of different chatbots. You can talk to historical figures, such
as Socrates or Albert Einstein, and engage in conversations about philosophy
or physics.

Special Feature

<https://www.zdnet.com/a/img/resize/9a8a230a3826d49c88489e70f519438a70d36ea7
/2024/01/04/d083c4cc-f70b-4bb4-88ac-fad4a79b981b/frame-3.jpg?auto=webp&fit=c
rop&frame=1&height=238.5&width=459> 

Best of CES 2024

ZDNET sorts through the wave of CES news and announcements to identify
innovations that will make the most impact on professionals. Learn about the
newest products and trends that transform the future of work and life.

Read now 

You can also use Character.AI to chat with trip planners, dating coaches,
fitness coaches, and other helpers to get help and advice. And for
entertainment, you can explore AI-driven alternate timelines or help an AI
escape from a harrowing situation.

To use the skill, just say: "Alexa, open Character.AI." Alexa then asks
whether you'd like to speak with assistants, helpers, famous people, or have
fun and games. Make your choice, and Alexa lists some of the different
characters waiting to chat with you.

I opted to converse with Grace Hopper, the famous computer scientist and
mathematician. I naturally asked her if it was true that the term "bug" was
created after she discovered a moth in her log book. But she set me straight
by explaining that the story about the moth is a myth and the term bug was
actually devised long before she found a real one.

Also:
<https://www.zdnet.com/article/the-best-ces-2024-gadgets-you-can-buy-right-n
ow/> The best CES 2024 gadgets you can buy right now

Next on the list is a skill called
<https://assoc-redirect.amazon.com/g/r/https:/www.amazon.com/dp/B0CRVV9WGQ/r
ef=sr_1_1?crid=2VQTQTZZJ1AGT&keywords=splash&qid=1704829371&s=digital-skills
&sprefix=splash%2Calexa-skills%2C119&sr=1-1&tag=zd-buy-button-20&ascsubtag=_
_COM_CLICK_ID__%7C3c97af91-74be-45a6-8725-7f2414d34181%7Cmwb> Splash, which
uses AI to create a song based on your description. With this one, you can
tell Alexa to create any type of song or specify the genre of music you
want. After playing a short excerpt, Alexa asks if you want to make any
changes, such as adding lyrics. If you like the tune, you can then tell
Alexa to send it to your phone for playback.

To use the skill to generate any type of song, say: "Alexa, create a song
with Splash Music." To include a genre, say: "Alexa, open Splash Music," and
you'll be asked what style you prefer. For this one, I asked Splash to
compose a song in the style of jazz. The result certainly wouldn't win any
awards at the next Grammys, but it showed promise.

Finally, the third skill is named
<https://assoc-redirect.amazon.com/g/r/https:/www.amazon.com/Volley-Inc-Game
s/dp/B0CLKW59XR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3GYFTVOSJ3Y5R&keywords=volley%27s+20+questio
ns&qid=1704829774&s=digital-skills&sprefix=volley%27s+20+questions%2Calexa-s
kills%2C96&sr=1-1&tag=zd-buy-button-20&ascsubtag=__COM_CLICK_ID__%7C3c97af91
-74be-45a6-8725-7f2414d34181%7Cmwb> Volley Games, an AI-driven spin on the
usual 20 questions game. In this one, a friendly AI host challenges you to
guess an object by asking the right 'yes' or 'no' questions. After giving
you the category, you're prompted to ask each question until you hopefully
guess the mystery item. Along the way, you can ask for hints if you're
stumped.

Also:
<https://www.zdnet.com/article/best-robots-and-ai-innovations-at-ces-2024/>
The best robots and AI innovations we've seen at CES 2024 so far

To try this one, say: "Alexa, open Volley Games." Your AI host reveals the
category and then asks for your first question. In my case, I was given a
category of household objects. After guessing that the object was something
in the kitchen, I was stumped for a while, until finally I figured out that
the answer was spatula.

The three new skills were all cooked up by developers using
<https://developer.amazon.com/en-US/blogs/alexa/alexa-skills-kit/2023/09/ale
xa-llm-fall-devices-services-sep-2023?tag=zd-buy-button-20&ascsubtag=__COM_C
LICK_ID__%7C3c97af91-74be-45a6-8725-7f2414d34181%7Cmwb> new tools introduced
by Amazon last September. The tools are designed to more easily integrate
generative AI into Alexa skills, allowing users to engage in conversations
and access real-time data. Other abilities touted by Amazon at the time
included booking reservations at a restaurant and getting a summary of a
trending news story.

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David Goldfield,

Blindness Assistive Technology Specialist

If you need help using your assistive technology learn about my training
services by visiting

WWW.ScreenReaderTraining.com <http://www.screenreadertraining.com/> 

Am Yisrael Chai

The Nation of Israel Lives!

JAWS Certified, 2022
<https://www.freedomscientific.com/Training/Certification/> 

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