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Kids don’t trust Alexa – great, but it’s no cure for fake news
Researchers say kids don’t believe everything Alexa and Siri tell them, suggesting they may grow up inoculated against fake news. But it’s not that simple. Read more…
virtual assistants
Features
Can Alexa or Siri add to the Formula One experience?
AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) – US Grand Prix winner Kimi Raikkonen has always been known as ‘The Iceman’ but Formula One fans could soon have much more of an insight into just how cool he really Read more…
Features
AI chatbot ‘Raaji” offers health advice to rural women in Pakistan
To mark the UN’s International Day of Rural Women – which took place on Oct 15 – this article looks at the work of a female entrepreneur using AI technology in Pakistan to make a Read more…
News
Amazon strikes deal to stick Alexa in Marriott hotel rooms
(Reuters) – Amazon said on Tuesday that it has partnered with Marriott International to help increase guest access to amenities with Alexa, through its voice-controlled device Echo, in an attempt to expand its presence in Read more…
Features
Early signs that Google’s Reserve tool is evolving the search game
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Google is drawing thousands of new customers to gyms and salons each month through its Reserve appointment-booking tool released last year, Reuters has learned, a quiet step in the company’s transition Read more…
Off the Wire
Smart homes generate tons of consumer data, and everybody wants some
Smart home devices and systems promise to deliver a new world of detailed consumer data and insight – and telcos, retailers, advertisers, and a host of service providers are keen to leverage those insights, finds a Read more…
News
Telefonica launches its digital assistant ‘Aura’ in six markets
BARCELONA (Reuters) – Spanish mobile operator Telefonica on Sunday launched a voice-activated assistant, called ‘Aura’, in six countries, using artificial intelligence to interact with its customers. The announcement, on the eve of the Mobile World Read more…
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Never mind the naysayers – Apple did a great job with HomePod
The controversy over Apple’s HomePod continues to simmer – late to the party, overpriced, no stereo, music from Apple sources only, limited Siri commands, limited third party SiriKit support. I’ve now had my HomePod over Read more…
Off the Wire
25% of customer service ops will use chatbots by 2020: Gartner
By 2020, 25% of customer service and support operations will integrate virtual customer assistant (VCA) or chatbot technology across engagement channels, up from less than 2% in 2017, according to Gartner. Speaking at of the Gartner Customer Experience Summit in Read more…
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Apple’s HomePod is too little too late for the smart speaker game
Apple’s much awaited HomePod is now available for pre-order and will start shipping on February 9. At $399, it is going up against some of the very best that the audio industry has to offer. Read more…