Amazon’s recent launch of its updated assistant, Alexa+, has left multiple outlets puzzled. The company claims that hundreds of thousands of customers already have access to the feature, but a search by Reuters found no evidence to support this claim.
Lack of User Accounts
Reuters searched extensively for first-hand accounts from users online but found none. The news agency scoured dozens of news sites, social media platforms, and Amazon-owned services without turning up a single user who claimed to have used the updated assistant.
Contradictory Responses from Amazon
The Verge reached out to Amazon for clarification on this issue and received a response that contradicts previous statements. According to Amazon, hundreds of thousands of customers already have access to Alexa+. However, when asked how many people had actually signed up for early access through the website link provided in an email invitation screenshot obtained by The Verge, an Amazon spokesperson said, "We don’t know."
In the email invitation screenshot provided by Amazon, users can request early access if they haven’t already done so. This raises questions about how many people are actually using the new feature and whether it is available more widely than initially stated.
Concerns Over Transparency
The confusion surrounding Alexa+ has sparked concerns about transparency and accuracy in reporting on emerging technologies. As companies like Google and Microsoft continue to develop their own AI assistants, it is essential that journalists remain vigilant in verifying information before publishing it.
Related News
- Google announced last week that its Bard AI chatbot will be integrated into Google Search starting next year as part of a major update aimed at making search results more conversational.
- Microsoft also unveiled plans last week for its new Bing chatbot service powered by OpenAI technology from ChatGPT creator Sam Altman, with some features set to roll out as soon as next month, according to reports from Bloomberg News.
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