Alexa

Amazon is developing an Alexa AI project called Moonraker to handle complex, multi-step tasks, positioning Alexa in the AI agent race. However, internal documents reveal the project's high costs, with projected GPU expenses exceeding $100 million by 2026, and Amazon faces challenges including delayed rollouts and technical issues like inconsistent responses.

Google released the Google Home Speaker, its first smart speaker in six years, designed for its Gemini AI. However, the article notes that Gemini for Home still feels unfinished and unready for the device.

Amazon Prime Day 2026 sales run from June 23 to June 26, offering exclusive deals across 35 categories. Tips include using Alexa for personalized recommendations, setting price alerts, and checking price history. Bonus offers include a free grocery sweepstakes, $5 Little Caesars pizza, and early screenings for 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day.'

Amazon has introduced a new feature in the Amazon Shopping app that allows users to generate custom designs using Alexa and print them on products such as T-shirts, hoodies, and tumblers.

The article reviews the top five smart speakers in 2026, focusing on devices compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri. It aims to help consumers choose based on their preferred virtual assistant.

The article lists the top Alexa-compatible smart speakers in 2026, including the Echo Dot Max, Echo Dot, Echo Show 11, and Echo Studio. It highlights their features for interacting with Alexa.

An Alexa command inadvertently revealed details of a husband's affair, highlighting how cheaters use 'sneak mode' to hide evidence at home. The article explains that despite such privacy measures, hidden evidence can still be uncovered.

Amazon is not developing a new smartphone, according to Amazon's head of devices and services, Panos Panay. The company previously tried selling a smartphone in 2014, but it was discontinued due to poor sales. Amazon explored using Alexa as an operating system for the phone, codenamed Transformer.

Amazon has created a version of Alexa specifically designed for shopping, called Alexa for Shopping. This 'agentic AI assistant' is intended to assist with Amazon purchases. The new feature aims to enhance the shopping experience on the platform.

Amazon's head of devices and services, Panos Panay, addressed rumors about a new Fire phone, stating it's not necessarily planned but didn't deny it outright. The company previously developed an Alexa-enabled AI phone codenamed 'Transformer'. Amazon scrapped its ill-fated Fire Phone over 10 years ago.

The SwitchBot Bot Rechargeable is on sale for over 20 percent off, available for $26.99 from Amazon and SwitchBot with code FORHER20. The device can be attached to buttons and controlled from a phone or set on a schedule. It's a great gift idea for Mother's Day.

WIRED's 2026 Smart Home Ecosystem Guide suggests that the choice between Alexa, Siri, and Google may depend on existing smart home devices.

Plex is discontinuing its Alexa integration, causing frustration among users who relied on voice commands to manage their personal media libraries. The Alexa skill for Plex will be retired on June 15, leaving users without voice-activated access to their media.

The article discusses reader debates on whether politeness toward AI assistants like Alexa is meaningful, referencing a broader series of reader questions. It highlights a specific inquiry about societal implications of a mistake-free world and includes a reader's perspective from Toronto.

The article discusses how digital devices collect vast amounts of personal data, raising privacy concerns due to unclear legal boundaries on law enforcement access. Law professor Andrew Guthrie Ferguson highlights the risks of self-surveillance through his book, emphasizing the potential misuse of data by authorities.