The first tool studies a handful of "golden utterances" (that is, reference commands suggested by the developers) to learn general syntax and semantics patterns. After that, it produces "rewrite expressions" that themselves create thousands of new yet similar sentences to work from. The system works quickly -- you could move from 50 utterances to a fully operational linguistic set in less than two days. Amazon's other tool uses guided resampling to replace terms that can be safely swapped, further improving the AI's training. The technique draws both on data from existing Alexa languages as well as media sources like the Amazon Music catalog, and it's capable enough to be aware of context (it won't swap a musician's name for an audiobook, for example).

Amazon's AI assistant will soon be able to speak more than just English in the U.S. The internet giant has launched a new program that will allow U.S. developers to build skills for Spanish-speaking users. In doing so, it will allow Amazon to build a more robust experience for Alexa users when it launches full Spanish-language support later this year. Amazon's AI assistant will soon be able to speak more than just English. 'We're excited to announce that now developers can start building skills for Spanish-speaking customers in the US using the Alexa Skills Kit with the new Spanish for US voice model,' the company wrote in a blog post on Monday. 'Skills that developers create now and are certified for publication will be available for participants in the Alexa Preview program, and to all customers when Alexa launches in the US with Spanish language support later this year.'

More than 400 million people worldwide speak Spanish as their native language. However, those people have been left behind by tech companies who make products based on speaking and listening, like Google Home and Amazon Echo. On Tuesday, the former remedied the situation. Google announced in a company blog post Tuesday morning that its Home line of smart-speaker products would listen and speak Spanish, starting immediately. According to Google, it is as easy as going to the preferences section of the Google Home app and changing the digital assistant's language to Spanish.

Today, Google announced that Assistant on its Home, Mini and Max products can now speak and understand Spanish. Additionally, consumers in Mexico will be able to find Google Home on store shelves starting today; the product launched in Spain last week. After saying the wake words "Ok, Google," users can use Spanish to speak with Assistant on the Home, Mini and Max. To hear about your schedule and appointments for the day, you can say, "¿Cómo será mi día?" Or to turn down the temperature, simply tell the Assistant, "Sube la temperatura del termostato." These features are available today on the afore mentioned Google Home hardware.

AI-powered voice interfaces have given rise to a new class of devices competing to supplant our phones. There are friendly wireless speakers in our kitchens and helpful digital passengers in our cars. Among the most promising are in-ear computers--wireless earbuds that operate as always-on, voice-controlled Internet communication gateways. We humans already wear headphones everywhere, and in the long stretches when we're not barking at Siri, we're listening to music or podcasts. But if the idea of in-ear computers is going to take off, the companies that make them have to figure out what happens when you shut off Spotify.