Amazon announced a new feature that will allow Alexa to speak in the voices of deceased relatives, friends and other loved ones, according to KTLA.
Speaking at the day two keynote during the companyâs annual MARS conference in Las Vegas, Alexa head scientist Rohit Prasad showed a video of Alexa, ostensibly sounding like a boyâs deceased grandmother reading him a book.
âAlexa, can grandma finish reading me âThe Wizard of Ozâ?â the child asks before Alexa goes into the book.
Prasad said one thing that surprises him about Alexa is âthe companionship relationship we have with it.â
âThese attributes have become even more important in these times of the ongoing pandemic, when so many of us have lost someone we love. While AI canât eliminate that pain of loss, it can definitely make those memories last.â
Prasad said the voice will enable âlasting personal relationships.â