voice-assistant

Amazon has launched Alexa for Shopping, replacing its Rufus generative AI assistant launched in 2024. The new assistant, powered by Alexa+, can make purchases across Amazon and other online retailers using a "Buy for Me" feature, and is now available to U.S. customers.

Apple confirmed in January 2026 that Google's Gemini AI models will power new Siri features, ending speculation about the company's AI assistant strategy. The integration will bring personal intelligence features that pull information from Apple apps like Mail, Calendar, Photos, and Notes, along with task automation and improved voice input.

Google's Gemini for Home voice assistant now executes smart home commands up to 1.5 seconds faster for lights and plugs, the company announced. The update also brings near-instant processing for alarms, timers, and reminders, currently available for English, French, and Spanish users.

An APK teardown of Google app 17.18 beta reveals Google is preparing a "Proactive Assistance" feature for the Gemini app that will provide personalized suggestions using data from apps like Gmail and Calendar. According to strings in the code, all data processing will occur on-device in an encrypted space.

Alibaba announced Friday that its Qwen AI model will be integrated into vehicles from 10 Chinese automakers including BYD, Geely, Li Auto, and SAIC Volkswagen. The system runs on Nvidia's automotive chip platform and allows drivers to order food delivery, book hotels, and make payments through voice commands, even with limited network connectivity.

Google Home's April 2026 update addresses Gemini voice assistant reliability issues. The update improves speech detection to reduce mid-sentence interruptions, speeds up responses to simple queries, and enhances music playlist recognition even when names are misspoken or in noisy environments.

Google is expanding Gemini for Home, its replacement for Google Assistant, to 16 new countries across Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Oceania. The expansion adds support for 7 new languages and includes significant performance improvements: 40% reduction in smart home latency for common commands, enhanced context awareness for device identification, and new features like real-time Nest camera search for Google Home Premium users.

Google has rolled out Gemini integration to Android Auto, enabling voice-controlled access to business information, Gmail searches, calendar management, and multi-turn conversations. A tester found the AI handled 90% of common driving-related tasks without requiring phone interaction.

OpenAI's ChatGPT is now available directly on Apple CarPlay, allowing drivers to conduct full voice conversations with the AI assistant while driving hands-free. The integration requires iOS 26.4, the latest ChatGPT app, and a compatible vehicle. Unlike Siri, ChatGPT cannot access device functions like email, messaging, or Maps, but provides information on complex topics Siri struggles with.

Amazon has added conversational food ordering to Alexa+, its next-generation AI assistant, enabling users to order from Uber Eats and Grubhub through natural language. The feature rolls out today to Alexa+ customers with Echo Show 8 devices and larger, allowing users to browse menus, customize meals, and modify orders mid-conversation.

Google's Gemini Live is experiencing persistent voice quality issues following the recent Gemini 3.1 Flash Live update. Users report that voice options like "Capella" (British female accent) have deteriorated significantly, with speech patterns changing dramatically during conversations and audio artifacts like crackles and pops becoming prominent.

Amazon's Alexa+, its conversational AI assistant, begins Early Access in the UK on March 19, rolling out to hundreds of thousands of users. The updated assistant includes British English localization with regional speech patterns, slang understanding, and agentic capabilities. Free for Prime members; £20/month for non-members.

Amazon is rolling out Alexa+, its AI-powered conversational assistant, to the UK as the first market outside North America. The company is offering free early access to new Echo buyers and plans to reach hundreds of thousands of customers in the coming weeks. After the beta period ends, Prime subscribers will get free access while non-Prime users will pay £19.99 per month.

Google has deployed its second major Gemini for Home update this month, reducing response latency by 40% for common commands and substantially shortening voice responses for alarms, timers, and calendar events. The update adds five new alarm/timer capabilities including world event-based triggers and recurring alarms, while expanding Gemini Live translation to 30 languages and rolling out Home features to 19 additional countries.

Amazon announced a new "Sassy" personality for Alexa+ on Thursday, marketed toward adult users and protected by additional security checks including Face ID on iOS. The personality uses explicit language and wit but explicitly excludes sexual content, hate speech, and harmful material.

Samsung is expanding Galaxy AI to include Perplexity as an integrated AI agent accessible via the voice command "Hey, Plex." The integration gives Perplexity access to Samsung's native apps including Notes, Clock, Gallery, Reminder, and Calendar, marking Samsung's shift toward a multi-agent ecosystem.