Alexa Takes the Wheel: Amazon Reinvents In-Car Experience at CES

At CES 2024, Amazon revealed major partnerships with BMW and Audi to embed Alexa in new vehicle models, pointing to voice assistants transforming how we interact with our cars.

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Insight Index

CES 2024: 7 Big Reveals From Amazon

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) lets companies showcase the future. This year, Amazon made waves with major reveals. They gave a glimpse into new technologies and partnerships. Let's explore Amazon's 7 key announcements.

1. Fire TV Teams Up with Panasonic

Amazon's Fire TV will come built into new Panasonic TVs. This collaboration will enhance the viewing experience. How? By combining Panasonic displays with Alexa voice commands. Users can search shows and control playback through speech.

This makes Panasonic TVs smarter. The integration means easier access to Fire TV's big selection of content. Having Fire TV built-in removes the need for external devices. Amazon gains a major TV brand integrating its platform too.

2. Alexa Will Give Your BMW a Brain

BMW cars will gain new AI powers thanks to Amazon. New Alexa capabilities will bring natural voice assistance to BMW vehicles. Drivers can ask questions about their car hands-free using Alexa.

For example, Alexa can provide guidance on features or vehicle status. Imagine asking "Alexa, how much gas do I have?" while keeping eyes on the road. This virtual assistant makes using your BMW smoother.

The collaboration fuses Alexa's conversational AI with BMW's luxury vehicles. It aims to simplify in-car controls through voice rather than knobs and screens. Alexa helps drivers focus on the road ahead.

3. Zoox Reveals Next-Gen Robotaxi

Amazon also used CES to reveal Zoox's latest robotaxi model. Zoox is Amazon's self-driving startup. The new vehicle is designed for autonomous ride-hailing services.

It includes innovative bi-directional seating and improved battery range. Riders can face each other during the trip for a more social experience. The new model is critical for Zoox's vision of driverless taxi services.

Attendees could even join an early rider waitlist for the robotaxis. It offers a taste of a seamless AI-powered future of transportation.

4. New Ways to Cast to Fire TVs

Amazon wants to simplify media streaming across devices. A new feature called Matter Casting lets you instantly cast from phone to Fire TV. No more juggling apps - just tap cast and beam shows from your phone.

Support for Matter also allows controlling Fire TV through the smart home ecosystem. You can ask Alexa to play videos using any Matter-enabled device.

These additions aim to make Fire TV the go-to media platform through seamless casting and smart home connectivity.

5. Alexa Gets Smarter with AWS

Artificial intelligence took center stage in Amazon's collaboration with Siemens. The industrial giant is leveraging Amazon's cloud AI to create intelligent applications.

Tools like AWS DeepComposer let anyone generate music with AI. Siemens is also using Amazon SageMaker to train machine learning models.

Together the companies aim to simplify access to advanced AI. Alexa voice services gain expanded capabilities too. The end goal? AI that people use naturally every day.

6. AI Auto Assist in Audi Vehicles

The auto collaborations extended beyond BMW. Amazon is also partnering with Audi to bring their AI assistant into vehicles.

Alexa will power voice interactions in Audi's infotainment system. Drivers can play music, get directions, control smart home devices and more through Alexa.

Like with BMW, Amazon's aim is to provide intelligent voice assistance while keeping drivers focused on the road. Alexa in Audi vehicles arrives later in 2024.

7. Amazon Showcases AI Innovation

Not all Amazon's CES news involved products. They also demonstrated technological advancements. For example, Amazon's scientists detailed multi-sensory AI systems capable of seeing, hearing and touching objects.

SHOWNU, a robot Audrey, was on display. It uses computer vision and tactile sensors to interpret its surroundings. This research highlights progress toward more capable AI assistants.

Amazon also hosted an Alexa automotive summit. Engineers, designers and leaders discussed voice technology's future in cars. The event emphasized Alexa's expansion as a mobility platform.

Key Takeaways from Amazon at CES

  • Fire TV will integrate directly into new Panasonic TVs for easier smart controls.

  • Alexa voice assistant will give BMW vehicles added AI capabilities through natural language.

  • Zoox revealed their next-generation robotaxi modeled designed for driverless ride-hailing.

  • New Casting abilities make it easier to stream media from phones to Fire TV devices.

  • Partnerships with Siemens and AWS will advance AI innovations and applications.

  • Alexa is coming to future Audi vehicles to power in-car intelligent assistance.

  • Beyond products, Amazon showcased progress in multi-sensory AI systems and research.

Sources

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