Google is expected to dive deeper into virtual reality and artificial intelligence Wednesday during an annual conference that serves as a launching pad for its latest products and innovations. Although Google keeps its plans under wraps until the big event, the conference agenda makes it clear that virtual reality and artificial intelligence, or "machine learning," will be among the focal points. That has spurred speculation that Google is getting ready to release a virtual-reality device to compete with Facebook's new Oculus Rift headset, as well as the Samsung's Gear VR and the Vive from HTC and Valve. Reporters and bloggers from around the world will attend, ensuring that whatever the company unveils will also be featured in stories, pictures and video delivered to a vast audience of consumers. The three-day showcase also attracts thousands of computer programmers, giving Google an opportunity to convince them why they should design applications and other services that work with its gadgets and an array of software that includes the Chrome Web browser and Android operating system for mobile devices.

Sony Corp. said Wednesday it has invested in U.S. artificial intelligence startup Cogitai, aiming to develop new AI technologies and release products using them within the next three years. Sony is believed to have obtained a roughly 20 percent stake in the company, founded in September by three AI researchers, in a move that could lead to the Japanese electronics giant's return to the robot business. Sony was an AI pioneer, known for producing robotic dog AIBO and humanoid QRIO featuring AI technologies. But it withdrew from the robot business in 2006 to improve profitability and restructure its consumer electronics business. The company has continued AI research itself, however, and its technologies, including face and speech recognitions, have been applied to other Sony products, such as digital cameras and smartphones.

SoundHound on Tuesday debuted a redesigned version of its mobile music-recognition app, adding voice-recognition capabilities that allow the user to learn what song is playing; play songs and build playlists on YouTube, Spotify, or other music-streaming services; and search for information on a specific artist using voice queries. The company describes the technology as "speech-to-meaning," and it first debuted with Hound, the company's digital voice assistant, back in March. Our own tests showed Hound was able to pull up results much faster than Apple's Siri, although it seemed to perform less accurately than Google Now. Users just need to open the app and say the phrase "OK, Hound." From there, you speak conversationally, and the Houndify backend technology should be able to understand the context and meaning of your queries.

In the latest attempt to fulfill sci-fi movie fantasies, tech firms have been lining up to provide you with a virtual assistant. From well-known voice-powered AIs such as Apple's Siri to upstarts like Viv, the goal is to quicken the actions you already take on your phone and other devices, growing ever-more efficient at the job by learning from your behavior. But like any hired help, each of these AI assistants has different skills, blind spots, and quirks. Bio: A voice-driven assistant that talks back to you--invoked by long-pressing the iPhone or iPad home button--and proactively recommends actions to take. Recently took up residence on Apple TV and Apple Watch.

"Machine learning" will pave the way to delivering better experiences including "how quickly we can put apps on the X1 platform," Comcast EVP and chief technology officer Tony Werner explained here in an introductory overview at the Imagine Park opening session on Monday. He envisioned "a ton of very cool apps," comparing the ability of DOCSIS 3.1 to replace "a backhoe or forklift" in implementing new services for cable operators. "I love Full Duplex," Werner enthused about a symmetrical multi-gigabit project underway at CableLabs and being demoed here by Nokia, before he scooted off stage to support other Comcast executives at the opening of their nearby booth on the INTX show floor. As fellow panelist and visionary Andy Lippman, senior scientist and Associate Director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab, showed his "Ultimate Media" project, Werner quickly noted that, "You don't have all the online sources loving it." Werner cited the prioritization for certain news sources within the MIT algorithm.

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(NASDAQ:AMZN)--Amazon today announced new Alexa voice features are coming to Fire TV, including the ability to control playback of Amazon Video and Add-On Subscription content, launch apps, access local movie show times, search local businesses and restaurants, and more--all just by using your voice. Discovering and accessing content on Fire TV has never been easier with the new Alexa playback features, plus integrated voice search across 59 content partners including Hulu, Showtime, Starz, HBO Go and more. These new Alexa features will be automatically delivered via free, over-the-air software updates in the coming weeks. "Customers have told us they love having the convenience of Alexa on their Amazon Fire TV," said Tim Twerdahl, General Manager, Amazon Fire TV. "We're excited to add new Alexa features to Fire TV, making it easier than ever to enjoy their favorite TV shows, movies, and apps."

Amazon Fire TV is beefing up its Alexa voice features. You could already use the voice remote with Amazon's Fire TV and Fire Stick devices to ask Alexa to search for TV shows and movies. Amazon Fire TV owners will soon be able to ask Alexa to search for -- and get information from -- local movie theaters, restaurants and other businesses, as well as ask the voice-enabled virtual assistant for programming on HBO Go, Hulu, Showtime and other apps. Owners of Fire TV devices (Fire Stick, 49.99; Fire TV, 99.99) will get the new Alexa features automatically via free software upgrades in the coming weeks, Amazon says. "Customers have told us they love having the convenience of Alexa on their Amazon Fire TV," said Tim Twerdahl, General Manager, Amazon Fire TV.

Amazon's virtual assistant was already hard at work helping with tasks via its Echo speakers and Fire TV, but now Alexa is getting more control of your television. The online retailer announced today that Alexa can handle more requests on its streaming gadgets, including launching apps, playing selections from Amazon video and add-on subscriptions (HBO Go, Starz, Showtime, SeeSo) and browsing local movie times. Fire TV already offered voice search and Alexa has been available on those devices as well, but this update expands the virtual assistant's workload.

Yes, that movie based on the classic puzzle game Tetris is really happening. A live-action science fiction movie based on the block-stacking puzzler will be co-produced by Threshold Entertainment Group and China's Seven Star Works, the companies revealed in a joint statement Tuesday. The project, carrying a budget of 80 million, starts shooting in China in 2017. The Tetris film is the first movie in a joint venture between the two companies to produce and finance film under Threshold Global Studios. Threshold Entertainment Group is run by veteran film producer Larry Kasanoff, who worked on another series of notable video game adaptations based on Mortal Kombat.

Thanks to the Houndify platform, the SoundHound app can handle spoken cues after you alert it with the "OK Hound" command. For example, if you wanted to hear something upbeat, you would say "OK Hound, play Major Lazer." Don't worry, you can still ask the app to identify a song being played, sang or hummed -- that original function isn't going away. You can also tell SoundHound to add a track to a playlist on your streaming service of choice or ask it trivia questions. It can let you know where a particular artist was born or the name of their latest single.