Amazon Alexa could soon hear the Xbox starting and give kids chores instead

Amazon is adding new features to Alexa that would allow the smart assistant to listen for the sound of kids turning on an Xbox, and automatically give them a chore list. The latest move is part of a series of measures by Amazon designed to make it more'passive', having it do more automatically without human intervention. Speaking at Web Summit 2021, which is being held in Lisbon this week, Tom Taylor, Senior Vice President of the Alexa division, said the firm wants people to have to talk to Alexa less. One of the new features taking it in this direction involves'passive sounds,' made from audio files people record around their own home that then trigger a Routine. 'Lets say you are a parent and want to make sure your kids do their chores,' he explained.