Services such as Google TV and Amazon's Fire TV have recommendation systems, as well as search functions, that may prioritise some content over others. Services such as Google TV and Amazon's Fire TV have recommendation systems, as well as search functions, that may prioritise some content over others. World's broadcasters urge EU to tighten rules for big tech in smart TV battle The world's largest broadcasters have pushed for the EU to enforce its toughest regulations against virtual TVs and smart assistants built by Google, Amazon, Apple and Samsung . The call came in a letter from the Association of Commercial Television and Video on Demand Services in Europe (ACT), whose members include Canal+, RTL, Mediaset, ITV, Paramount+, NBCUniversal, Walt Disney, Warner Bros Discovery, Sky and TF1 Groupe. The letter argues that big tech companies have growing control over the operating systems of smart TVs and voice assistants, allowing them to act as "gatekeepers" funnelling users towards some content and away from others.

This easy-to-use, Wi-Fi-enabled bean-to-cup brewer is good, but not quite great. App is simple and works well. "Smart" features only work with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Integrating with HomeKit via third-party apps is not worth the effort. Pricey for what's essentially an auto-drip machine that works with an app, which is no longer novel or futuristic.

Amazon Health AI is a new digital health assistant that answers medical questions, explains lab results and connects users with Amazon One Medical providers for care.

You don't have to upload your video to the cloud or pay a monthly fee to secure your home. In the age of state surveillance, with big tech trampling our data privacy rights and gouging us for every penny, there are plenty of reasons to keep your security camera footage local. Whether you want to save money or ensure your video doesn't end up in the hands of persons (or AI) unknown, subscription-free security cameras are the way to go. The good news is that locally recording security cameras are better than ever. I've been testing security cameras for a decade, and the gap between the best cloud-connected and local cameras is closing. You don't necessarily have to give up the best features to shirk that subscription anymore.

Now outfitted with AI computer vision, Aiper's new pool cleaner can actively search for debris. AI vision helps to power excellent cleaning. Charging stand makes topping up the battery easy. Only spends 10 minutes at the waterline after each run before sinking. Cleanup can be a bit of a bear.

There Aren't a Lot of Reasons to Get Excited About a New Amazon Smartphone The company is reportedly building a new AI-powered mobile device. If Amazon follows through on the plan, experts warn it would be next to impossible to break into a crowded market. Reuters reports that Amazon's Devices and Services unit is working on a smartphone--dubbed Transformer--with Amazon's Alexa+ AI assistant and shopping as a major focus of the experience. It's unclear what this smartphone would cost, how much Amazon is spending to develop Transformer, and what operating system it will run. There's no word on when it will launch, and there's still also a chance the project could be scrapped altogether.

Its march toward automation continues. Amazon has acquired Rivr, a startup focused on autonomous robotics. Rivr is based in Zurich and was valued at $110 million in a funding round from August 2024, which both Amazon and its CEO's Bezos Expeditions participated in. Financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed. Rivr's robots have four legs and wheels that allow it to maneuver on stairs and other potentially uneven surfaces.

Amazon's next-generation voice assistant launches in early access in Europe for the first time. Amazon's next-generation smart assistant has entered its Early Access program in the UK, marking Alexa+'s European debut following rollouts in the US, Canada and Mexico. Starting March 19, invitations to start using the smarter, more conversational will be sent out to hundreds of thousands of willing participants, Amazon said in a, adding that Alexa is the most popular voice assistant in the UK. As well as its more natural communication, agentic capabilities, contextual awareness and ability to remember previous conversations across devices, Amazon that users across the pond are getting an authentically British AI-powered assistant. It understands slang terms like cuppa and might even accuse you of taking the mick in the middle of a conversation.

Amazon's Alexa has had an AI upgrade. Now she's got more to say Amazon's Echo smart speaker - more commonly known as Alexa - is getting an AI-powered upgrade which will roll out across the UK. Alexa+ turns the digital assistant into a more chatty device which Amazon says will be able to follow threads and be more proactive in its responses. There has been criticism the Echo has stagnated since its launch in 2016, while AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude have become much easier to communicate with. It will be interesting to see how users react to this - we expect this could be polarising, with some enjoying the more relaxed, familiar interactions while others may find it disconcerting, said Jessica Miller, head of data insights at FDM/CCS Insight. UK consumers will notice an immediate difference, she added.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Amazon's Echo Spot speaker gets its first discount this year: 38% off You can get the Echo Spot for just $50 (was $80) right now, close to the best price it's ever been. We're days away from Amazon's Big Spring Sale event and we're already seeing some impressive discounts, especially for the company's own Echo line. For instance, the Echo Spot is down to $50 (was $80). That's the first time it's gone on sale this year and just a few bucks away from its best-ever price.