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Rally's and Checkers are using AI chatbots for Spanish-language food orders
Checkers and Rally's restaurants have launched the first Spanish ordering system that uses AI.
Google and PBS launch a media literacy program to combat misinformation
Google has teamed with PBS Student Report Labs and other organizations on a program to strengthen media literacy for students, educators and the public.
American Nest Hub and Hub Max smart displays can now show Spanish text
Starting today, Google is rolling out more robust Spanish language support to Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max devices in the US.
Pandora now works in Spanish on Alexa and Google Assistant
Pandora can now respond to requests en español in the US via Alexa and Google Assistant. You can activate Spanish voice controls by adding the language through the Alexa or Assistant settings.
Alexa can now speak Spanish in the US
As of today, Amazon customers in the US can speak to Alexa in Spanish. They can switch Echo and Alexa Built-In devices to Spanish using the Alexa app, or they can take advantage of multilingual mode. That feature allows Alexa to respond in English or Spanish, depending on which language the question was asked in.
Alexa will speak Spanish in the US later this year
Americans will soon be able to speak to Alexa in Spanish. Amazon launched a new voice model on Monday that will let developers build skills for Spanish-speaking users. The addition to the Alexa Skills Kit for developers comes months before Amazon plans on bringing full Spanish-language support to all Alexa devices later this year.
The first Spanish-language esports channel launches in the US
Telemundo Deportes has launched the first ever Spanish-language esports streaming channel in the US, showing just how big professional gaming competitions have become these past years. The programming division in charge of NBCUniversal's Spanish-language sports events and magazine programs will livestream competitions and and playthroughs on both YouTube and Twitch. It will kick off its competition coverage with the EA Sports FIFA19 FUT Champions Cup that will take place on April 5th to 7th, followed by the next events in the Global Series' lineup until the grand finals this summer.
Amazon's Alexa and Echo launch in Mexico
Amazon's Alexa is available in numerous countries, but there are still major expansions left to go -- case in point, Mexico. The company has launched both Alexa and its Echo range of smart speakers in the country, complete with a new voice, Mexico-oriented Spanish, local knowledge and the Alexa skills to match. Amazon Music (including both Music Unlimited and Prime Music) is arriving in the country, too, providing millions of tunes as well as locally curated playlists and stations.
Facebook's tougher policies delay Hispanic political ads
Facebook's stricter ad policies may be creating further complications for legitimate campaigns. Strategists for Hispanic organizations have told the Washington Post that their political ads typically require "several days" to reach Facebook simply because they're targeting a Spanish-language audience. As the social network's policies require it to both review ads targeted at ethnic groups and fight racial discrimination, the process takes considerably more time than ads aimed at a general audience.
Alexa and Echo will arrive in Italy and Spain later this year
Amazon's plan to put Alexa everywhere is extending from homes to hotels and, soon, the Mediterranean. It will bring Alexa and the various Echo devices to Spain and Italy later this year. Sonos and Bose will also start selling their Alexa-enabled devices in those countries before the year's out.
Watch live World Cup games in Spanish on the NBC Sports app (updated)
You'll soon have a few easy ways to watch the 2018 World Cup en español. NBC's Telemundo Deportes has unveiled plans to stream live World Cup games in Spanish through the NBC Sports app (on mobile and living room devices) in addition to the apps from Telemundo itself and local stations. You'll also see Telemundo's content available through a link on the NBC Sports website. We've asked if you'll need a TV sign-in to watch matches online.
Facebook Messenger will begin translating English to Spanish soon
Messenger's built-in AI is getting a new trick. The M digital assistant will suggest translating a message to your native language if you get a message via Marketplace in a different tongue. It'll start with English to Spanish and roll out to users in the US over the next few weeks. Other languages and availability will come online later. This could make offloading that spare couch of yours a lot easier in the future -- especially if you're trying to communicate with a buyer while you're on the go.
Duolingo podcasts are a casual way to learn a new language
Duolingo is moving beyond gamifying language learning and into podcasts. The first season focuses on simple-to-understand Spanish-language stories. But they aren't fiction. The first episode is about a boy who loves soccer (football to the rest of the world) and his local Mexican team getting promoted to Division One. The podcast has a NPR feel to it, which is probably because it's hosted by Martina Castro, who co-founded the broadcaster's Radio Ambulante series.
Lyft offers drivers 24/7 access to support services
Today, Lyft announced a few new features for its driver support app that are meant to make the process of getting help simpler and easier to navigate. First, the Lyft Driver app will now include a button that will allow drivers to quickly connect with the company's new 24/7 over-the-phone support service. And Lyft is also rolling out phone and email support for Spanish-speaking drivers and adding Spanish-speaking team members to its on-call support team. Additionally, the company's online help center has been tweaked to make sure drivers' questions get answered more quickly.
Starz pads its streaming library with more kids' and Spanish options
Starz is turning its attention to "underserved audiences" in the world of streaming video, adding a raft of children's shows and Spanish-language programs to its $9-a-month library and on-demand platforms. Bob the Builder and Thomas and Friends are among the fresh kid-focused titles, while adults can enjoy nearly 300 new Spanish-language movies and TV show episodes, including Colombian telenovelas La Promesa and El Cartel de los Sapos.
Facebook Messenger's AI 'M' can now assist you in Spanish
It sounds like Facebook "M," the AI-powered virtual assistant for Messenger, has learned a new language. According to the social network, it can now dole out suggestions in Spanish if that's your default language in the US or if you're in Mexico. The company rolled out M to all users in the US in April, giving it the power to pop up in the middle of conversations. If you ask a friend to pay you $10 for pizza, it automatically shows all possible in-app payment options. Tell an officemate "let's meet tomorrow," and it provides a link to create an appointment and will even hail you an Uber or a Lyft. That's the kind of assistant M is, and it now works the same way in Spanish.
Univision Now brings live and on-demand streaming to Roku
Hispanic US TV broadcaster Univision just got easier to find thanks to a hookup with Roku. The Univision Now streaming app is available on Roku boxes, Roku TVs from TCL and Roku apps on PCs or mobile devices. For $6 a month or $50 per year, users can stream live programming including telenovelas like Pasión y Poder, reality shows, awards shows and UniMás sports content including Liga MX and MLS fútbol.
Google hopes new languages keep you from saying 'adios' to Allo
When Google released its Allo chat app late last year, the accompanying chatbot known as Google Assistant was only able to offer helpful advice and Smart Replies in English. Knowing full well that you can't have an international chat assistant without supporting multiple languages, Google eventually introduced support for German, Hindi and Japanese as well. Today, that repertoire grows even larger as Assistant in Allo now supports two of the most popular languages in the world: French and Spanish.
Amazon.com now sells you stuff in Spanish
You can now browse Amazon's main website and mobile app in Spanish -- and, yes, we mean Amazon.com, not its .es counterpart. The e-commerce company has even added an easily accessible language settings option on the website's interface, right next to the "Accounts & Lists" drop-down menu. As CNET noted, Amazon is most likely looking to attract more Spanish-speaking shoppers, especially since the US now has 41 million native speakers and 11 million bilingual residents. It even recently expanded Prime to cover Mexico, offering the same free unlimited shopping and streaming videos customers get in the US.
Your kid's new Spanish tutor is a creepy robot
A lot of well-meaning parents really, really want their child to learn a second language. However, it's hard to teach a language when you don't actually speak it yourself. Flash cards, videos and apps are all great, but real retention only happens through regular social interaction. Enter Flash Robotics' EMYS, a Kickstarter project that isn't just another mechanical assistant -- it's a friend that chats, plays and makes sure your kid walks away with some knowledge of the Spanish language.
