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Amazon taught Alexa to whisper sweet nothings in your ear
Soon enough, Amazon's Alexa will shout out your grocery list. That's assuming developers take advantage of the new language framework that Amazon has added to its digital assistant. The idea is that the Speech Synthesis Markup Language (SSML) will hopefully give Alexa more natural speaking patterns. Specifically, now Alexa is capable of whispering, bleeping out swear words and adding emphasis to a phrase in addition to changing volume, speed and pitch of its voice.
Pop culture's many takes on artificial intelligence
Over the years, artists, writers, filmmakers and game studios have all tackled the concept of artificial intelligence. Often their vision is of machines that are brutally hostile to humans. Philip K. Dick envisioned androids that murder their owners. The iconic HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey ... also murders his human companions. Of course, there's Skynet, which launches an all-out war on mankind. We could go on like this for a long time. But there are also those, like Spike Jonze, who envision us having a more complex relationship with computer-based personalities; one in which they could even be love interests. And in Star Trek: The Next Generation Data is not only a "good" android, but he's often the hero of the show. We've pulled together 13 of our favorite portrayals of AI over the years and put them in the gallery below. It is by no means comprehensive. So please, let us know what we missed in the comments or tweet at us (@engadget) to let us know your favorite AI character from the film, TV or books using the hashtag #EngadgetAIWeek.
In the App Store, love comes cheap
When you're a writer, people expect you to write. And when you're courting someone the pressure to write for them, and to do it well, is amplified. My most recent romantic conquest, a Mexican interior designer, lived in LA. He was a diehard romantic, hundreds of miles away, and despite a slight language barrier, he had a way with words that I struggled to match. He had the ability to make me melt with a single text. I, in turn, would sit for minutes at a time, wringing my heart and brain for just one drop of sweet sentiment.
The only thing keeping robots down is you
The robots are coming. And I don't mean to the factory floor, or your kid's toy box. I mean to your living room, your office and your everyday life. The question is no longer a matter of if, but when. Some might even wonder why we don't already have a robot in every home. Designers will tell you they know how to build a successful home robot. They know the key is the ability to build social, if not emotional relationships. And they have a whole bag of tricks and research they can turn to for help. We haven't seen the level of artificial intelligence needed in consumer products yet, but it certainly seems as if we're getting pretty close in the lab. So if it's not a question of technology or design, what's the holdup?
Watch the magical future of E Ink color displays in action
We just got a chance to see exactly what E Ink's new Prism tech looks like in person. And? It's pretty neat! As you might be able to tell from the admittedly sped-up GIF above, it's a bit mesmerizing, but still manages to be subtle. The outfit's Joseph Fillion describes it as "more than static, but not quite digital." What he means by that is it isn't the type of thing you'd likely see used on billboards or other advertisements, but more along the lines of navigational opportunities and branding. For example, you could carry an RFID chip in your pocket at a hotel and it'd change the color of the walls letting you know you were actually headed in your room's direction, possibly with the place's logo appearing once you've reached your destination. Or imagine your living room's walls changing color in accordance to your thermostat's temperature reading. It seems futuristic as hell, but it's much more Her than Blade Runner.
Must See HDTV for the week of May 12th: Her, Crocodile Dundee and so many finales
It's that time of the year, when most TV shows wrap up their run. From Castle to The Mentalist to Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (which is surprisingly coming back for another season) to Grimm, finales and conclusions abound. We've also received that bad news that one of our favorites, Community, has not been renewed for the upcoming season, putting us in an extra melancholy mood. If you also need a lift, check this week's Blu-ray releases for the Crocodile Dundee 1 & 2 double-pack, plus Eastbound & Down S4 and Orange is the New Black on disc. There's no F1 this week, but sports fans have more NBA and NHL playoff action to look forward to, plus the NASCAR Sprint Cup All-Star race this weekend and a 30 for 30-style look at this year's US men's soccer team. Check after the break for a list of what's new this week plus a few trailers, and drop a note in the comments if you see any highlights that we've missed.
Recommended Reading: Spike Jonze predicts the future of UI, confronting tragedy through video games and more
Recommended Reading highlights the best long-form writing on technology in print and on the web. Some weeks, you'll also find short reviews of books dealing with the subject of technology that we think are worth your time. We hope you enjoy the read. Why Her Will Dominate UI Design Even More Than Minority Report (2,194 words) by Kyle Vanhemert, Wired Pocket!function(d,i){if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement("script");j.id=i;j.src="https://widgets.getpocket.com/v1/j/btn.js?v=1";var w=d.getElementById(i);d.body.appendChild(j);}}(document,"pocket-btn-js"); For the better part of the last decade, Minority Report has been the go-to reference for futuristic UI design. But, lets be serious, nobody is clamoring for more gadgets to control by waving their hands like a lunatic. More likely, the future will see technology seamlessly integrated into our lives, the way it is in Spike Jonze's latest film, Her. In this "slight future" everything around the protagonist Theo Twombly is subtly smart, responding to his movements, words and even moods. And there in lies the true potential of artificial intelligence. As Vanhemert asserts in his article, "it [AI] doesn't have one fixed personality. Instead, its ability to figure out what a person needs at a given moment emerges as the killer app."
Siri has some sassy responses when asked about the movie Her
Siri sure has come a long way since its early days as the flagship feature in iOS 5. Back in the day, Siri could barely make out what people were saying. Nowadays, Siri is rather sassy, and dare I say, also a tad jealous that he/she isn't the only intelligent personal assistant on the block. About two weeks ago, the movie Her hit theaters. Written and directed by Spike Jonze, the sci-fi dramedy focuses on the relationship between Joaquin Phoenix and his burgeoning love affair with Samantha, the voice of an intelligent operating system. Yep, Joaquin Phoenix, who so masterfully played Commodus in Gladiator, is now in a movie where he falls in love with his OS. Despite the bizarre plot, the movie thus far has received positive reviews from critics, even garnering three Golden Globe nominations. Just don't mention that to Siri. If you ask about the movie Her, Siri doesn't mince words. Damn, Siri. Jealous much? Here, Siri tries to avoid the question altogether. My resolve strong, I decided to ask again. But finally, a breakthrough! I had a feeling that Siri was protesting a tad too much. At last! The truth comes out. And then, the questions got a little personal. When confronted with a question about Phoenix's character Theodore Twombly, Siri quickly became tight-lipped. Hmm, better ask again. And one final time, though this time Siri misheard "Theodore" as "theater." And in case you're curious as to what this movie Her is all about, check out the quirky trailer below.
Joaquin Phoenix finds real love with artificial intelligence in Spike Jonze's 'Her' (video)
When sci fi narratives explore artificial intelligence approaching a human level of sentience, they tend to focus on the negative (Skynet, anyone?). Not so with Spike Jonze's new movie Her, a melancholy examination of what it means to be human in an increasingly inhuman world. The film stars Joaquin Phoenix as a social recluse who finds a friend in his smartphone's Siri-inspired assistant, Samantha (voiced by Scarlett Johansson). The relationship blossoms in a way that manages to be both heartfelt and deeply unsettling, and Jonze's take on a sort of technological animism feels pretty culturally resonant. Her is set for a November release, and you can watch the trailer after the break.
GoPro starts shipping $80 LCD BacPac for HD Hero, has no room for your lunch box (video)
Aiming your helmet camera and replaying footage is a problem on most models. The HD170 makes it easy, but then hits you with a lot of bulk. Contour is working on a viewfinder app for iOS and Android devices that will wirelessly stream video, but that's not out yet. GoPro's LCD BacPac, on the other hand, is shipping today. We spent a little quality time with one at CES, a tiny screen that clips on the back of a 1080p HD Hero and lets you see what's being filmed and also play back what you've captured earlier. As you can see it adds about a quarter-inch of depth onto the camera but comes with a replacement back door to retain compatibility with all mounts. It's shipping now for $80, making it a somewhat expensive accessory for a $300 camera. %Gallery-115483%
