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What exactly is Amazon Alexa and what does it do?

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What exactly is Amazon Alexa and what does it do?

(Alifweb) – Amazon Alexa is an interactive voice assistant that can do everything from checking the weather to launching your favorite playlist. Alexa is available on the majority of Amazon goods, including the new Echo Pop, the famous Echo Dot, and a wide range of smart thermostats, soundbars, lamps, and other devices.

Alexa, in addition to taking basic commands from you, can send commands to the rest of your linked smart home, making it simple to streamline your life. Do you want to learn more about Amazon Alexa?

Then you’ve come to the right place. Here’s a closer look at Alexa’s origins, how it works, how it earned its name, and pretty much everything else you’d want to know about the popular voice assistant and smart home prodigy.

What exactly is Alexa?

What exactly is Amazon Alexa and what does it do

For most people, all they need to know about Alexa is that it is the name of the voice that can be heard through Alexa-enabled speakers. Alexa is essentially what Siri is to Apple. Alexa is a voice that can answer inquiries such as “What is the weather like today in Chicago?” Alexa is incorporated into many of Amazon’s services and may be utilized with products like the original Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Spot, Echo Show, and Amazon Fire TV.

But, in reality, what is Alexa? When you ask Alexa a question, you’re interacting with a cloud-based service. Amazon’s Alexa Voice Service (AVS) is supposed to simulate real-life conversations, but users actually use intelligent voice commands to direct this service to accomplish certain activities. “Alexa” is merely a “wake word” that instructs the service to begin listening to your voice. To elicit a response from most gadgets, simply pronounce the wake word.

The Alexa Voice Service (AVS) is housed on the cloud, according to Amazon’s Developer site. Amazon’s AVS service provides advanced speech recognition and natural language understanding. The service can be used to enable voice functionality on any connected device with a microphone and speaker. As a result, Alexa is beginning to appear on headphones and other devices. ”

Alexa is always getting smarter with new capabilities through machine learning,” according to Amazon’s Developer site. While Alexa is Amazon’s official moniker, you can alter the wake word to “Amazon,” “Computer,” or “Echo.” That’s a handy function, especially if your name, or the name of your partner or flatmate, is Alexa or something close.

Why Alexa?

What exactly is Amazon Alexa and what does it do

Siri is available through Apple. Google Home includes the Google Assistant, which responds to the phrase “OK, Google.” Alexa is available via Amazon. But why is this so? The name “Alexa” was picked for a few reasons, according to David Limp, the Amazon executive who oversaw the service’s development.

First and foremost, the name “Alexa” refers to the Library of Alexandria, which strove to compile all of the world’s information. Amazon is making an attempt to accomplish the same thing. Alexa is always learning, but in theory, she should be a constant source of information.

Practically speaking, the service was named Alexa because it features the unusual “X” sound. Because this is a voice-activated service, Amazon sought to pick a name that wouldn’t be confused with other terms that could accidentally wake up the device:

“We did go through a number of names, and the name is as important for the personality that it creates around the persona as it is for this cloud-based computer-based voice computer.” ”

But there’s also computer science at work,” Limp explained. “If any of you have Echoed, you know that it only wakes up when it hears the word ‘Alexa,’ and the phonics of that word, how that word is parsed, and the fact that it has a hard consonant with the ‘X’ in it, all play a role in ensuring that it only wakes up when it’s asked for.” As a result of the combination of those two factors, we were able to zero in on Alexa.”

Where can I use Alexa?

What exactly is Amazon Alexa and what does it do

To use Alexa, you’ll need a device that supports voice technologies. This usually refers to an Amazon device like an Echo, Echo Dot, or Echo Show, but this cloud-based personal voice assistant has also been included in the Echo Auto and some third-party systems. Alexa is also supported by devices such as the Fire TV and some third-party devices such as the Sonos One. Alexa has even been designed to work with a Big Mouth Billy Bass.

Alexa is also at the heart of numerous smart-home systems, such as Wink, SmartThings, and the Logitech Harmony. You can also use Alexa to piece together your smart home, as she can pair with hubless devices like WeMo switches and Nest thermostats. Now that many Echo devices enable Matter, it can communicate with a wide range of smart home products.

What can Alexa do?

Alexa’s command set appears to be expanding on a daily basis. Amazon refers to these as “skills,” and you can even design your own using Amazon Blueprints. Following Amazon’s approval, you can even publish your own skills in the Amazon Skills Store for others to utilize on their Alexa devices. The number of jobs that Alexa can perform is certainly greater than what we can cover in this article, so be sure to read our summary of the greatest Alexa skills of 2023.

Furthermore, Alexa can assist people in developing sleep and morning routines. You only need to assign a command, and that command can set off a chain of events. For example, if you say, “Alexa, goodnight,” the machine may turn off all the lights in the house, arm the security system, and put on an ambient noise machine all at once.

You may also customize your routine; for example, you could tell Alexa to turn on your chosen lighting, wait 10 minutes, and then switch on the coffee maker. If you wake up before your partner, you can utilize Alexa’s whisper mode to converse back in a whisper and explicitly listen for your murmurs. Our how-to guide will teach you how to set up routines.

Alexa Guard is a useful security tool that attentively monitors the perimeter of your home as well as activity inside while you are not present. If your Echo speaker detects unexpected sounds, such as breaking glass or another mysterious disturbance, Alexa will send you a notification to investigate. You’ll get the same home-monitoring capability, access to Amazon’s emergency hotline, and several additional security tools with Alexa Guard Plus (a premium version of the same feature).

By developing useful and intuitive technology, Amazon is continually working to improve and expand Alexa’s functions and capabilities. For example, the business is now working on frustration-detection tools, so Alexa can read your tone and determine if you’re frustrated with it. To discover more about these new Alexa features, simply ask, “Alexa, what’s new with you?” and it is delighted to share.

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OpenAI introduces DALL-E 3 API and updated text-to-speech models

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OpenAI introduces DALL-E 3 API and updated text-to-speech models

(Alifweb) – On its inaugural developer day, OpenAI released a number of new application programming interfaces. DALL-E 3, OpenAI’s text-to-image model, is now available via an API after first coming to ChatGPT and Bing Chat.

OpenAI claims that the API has built-in moderation to prevent misuse, much like prior versions of DALL-E (such as DALL-E 2). Resolutions from 1024×1024 up to 1792×1024 are available via the DALL-E 3 API, with fees beginning at $0.04 for each output image. However, it is currently more restricted than the DALL-E 2 API.

The DALL-E 3 API cannot be used to generate modified versions of images by instructing the model to swap out parts of an existing image or generate variants of the same image in the same way that the DALL-E 2 API could.

DALL-E 3, OpenAI says it will automatically re-write it

When a generating request is given to DALL-E 3, OpenAI says it will automatically re-write it “for safety reasons” and “to add more detail” — which could result in less exact outcomes depending on the prompt.

OpenAI also provides a text-to-speech API called Audio API with two generative AI model versions and six different preset voices (Alloy, Echo, Fable, Onyx, Nova, and Shimer).

Starting today, you can use it for as little as $0.015 to input a thousand characters.

According to OpenAI’s Sam Altman on stage, “This is much more natural than anything else we’ve heard out there,” which can make apps easier to use and more intuitive to interact with.

“It enables a wide variety of applications,” the authors write, “from language study to voice assistance.” Unlike some speech synthesis systems and tools, OpenAI doesn’t provide a mechanism to adjust the emotional influence of the audio generated.

The Audio API documentation mentions that OpenAI’s internal tests with this have had “mixed results,” but that “certain factors,” such as capitalization or grammar in the text that is being read aloud, may influence how synthesized voices sound.

Developers using OpenAI are obligated to notify listeners whenever artificial intelligence is used to create sound. Concurrently, OpenAI announced the release of Whisper large-v3, the third iteration of their open-source automatic speech recognition model, which it claims significantly enhances the model’s performance across languages.

It’s hosted on GitHub with an open license.

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How to Delete Instagram Account Permanently? Step-by-Step Guide

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How to Delete Instagram Account Permanently

(Alifweb) – How to Delete Instagram Account? Your Profile, images, videos, comments, likes, and follows will all be deleted along with your account when you choose to delete it. Instead of permanently deleting your account, you can temporarily deactivate it and return to it at a later date.

We cannot remove an account for you at this time due to security concerns. In order to delete your account, you must be logged in. Check out some login advice if you’ve forgotten your username or password.

It’s a good idea to back up your Instagram content (pictures and comments) by logging in and downloading a backup before erasing your account. If you delete your Instagram account, you will also lose access to the service’s data download feature.

How to Delete Instagram Account Permanently from your computer:

  • Go to the Delete your account page. If you aren’t logged in to Instagram on the web, you’ll be asked to log in first.
  • Select an option from the drop-down menu below Why do you want to delete [account name]? and re-enter your password. The option to permanently delete your account will only appear after you’ve selected a reason from the menu and entered your password.
  • Click Delete [username].
If you’d like to delete a different account:
  • Click the username in the top right of the Delete your account page.
  • Click next to Edit profile and select Log out.
  • Log back in as the account that you want to delete and follow the directions above.
To permanently delete your account from the Accounts Centre:
  • Click menuMore in the bottom left, then click Settingssettings.
  • Click Accounts Centre, then click Personal Details.
  • Click Account Ownership and Control, then click Deactivation or Deletion.
  • Click the account that you’d like to permanently delete.
  • Click Delete account, then click Continue.

Note: You may not be able to remove your account via the Accounts Centre at this time.

If your old Instagram handle is still available after you delete your account, you can use it to create a new profile or transfer it to a new account. Bear in mind that if your account has been disabled for breaking Community Guidelines, you may not be able to sign up again with the same username.

You will no longer have access to your account or any of its associated data after 30 days have passed from the date you requested deletion. During that time, your content is protected by Instagram’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and is unavailable to the general public.

Once the deletion procedure has begun, it may take up to 90 days to finish. We may keep backup copies of your content indefinitely in case of a data loss due to a natural disaster, a bug in the programme, or any other reason.

For reasons like legal compliance, term violations, or harm prevention, we may also retain your data. Check out our Privacy Policy if you want more information.

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What exactly is Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and how does it merge numerous Xbox services into one?

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What exactly is Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and how does it merge numerous Xbox services into one?

The Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Subscription is being revealed

Microsoft has taken a huge step forward in the ever-changing world of gaming with the introduction of the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription. This revolutionary service merges various Xbox services into one, giving gamers an all-encompassing gaming experience.

The Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership is a monthly service that provides access to a large library of games as well as unique member discounts and other benefits. It combines two well-known Xbox services: Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass.

Understanding Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold

Before going into the details of the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership, it’s important to understand the two services it combines.

Xbox Live Gold is a paid Xbox gaming console subscription service. It gives you access to online multiplayer gaming, free games every month, and savings on select Xbox Store games.

Xbox Game Pass, on the other hand, is a membership service that provides access to a library of over 100 titles. Subscribers can download and play any game from the library for free. New games are added to the library regularly, ensuring that users always have something new to play.

The Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Subscription: A Service Bundle

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate combines the best of Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass into a single membership. Subscribers pay a monthly subscription to receive all of the benefits of Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass.

This implies that users will be able to play online multiplayer games, download and play games from the Xbox Game Pass catalog, and receive unique member discounts and free games every month.

The Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription includes access to Xbox Game Pass for PC, which allows subscribers to download and play games on both their PC and Xbox console.

Benefits of the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Subscription

The Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership, in addition to combining Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass, provides a few additional benefits.

One of these is the addition of EA Play, an Electronic Arts gaming subscription that allows access to a library of EA games, early access to future releases, and member-only features.

Another advantage of cloud gaming is the possibility to play games on mobile devices. Subscribers can use this feature to play over 100 Xbox Game Pass games on their Android phone or tablet.

Conclusion

The Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription is a comprehensive gaming service that integrates several Xbox services into a single package. It provides a large game collection, online multiplayer gaming, member discounts, and the option to play games on many devices.

The Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription is a cost-effective and simple solution for gamers who wish to enjoy a wide choice of games and services.

Microsoft, Xbox, and Electronic Arts are the sources.

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