A feature under development would allow Alexa to mimic the voice of a specific person based on a less than a minute of provided recording.
The goal of the feature, according to Rohit Prasad, senior vice president and head scientist for Alexa, during Amazon's Re:Mars conference in Las Vegas, was to increase user trust in their interactions with Alexa by incorporating more "human attributes of empathy and affect.
The attributes have become even more important during the ongoing pandemic when so many have lost loved ones.
In a video played at the event by Amazon, a young child asks "Alexa, can Grandma finish reading me the Wizard of Oz," and Alexa responds by switching to a different voice that imitates the child's grandmother. After that, the voice assistant keeps reading the book in that same tone.
In order to produce the feature, according to Prasad, the business had to figure out how to record a high-quality voice in a shorter amount of time as opposed to spending hours in a studio. The feature, which is sure to raise more privacy concerns and moral dilemmas regarding consent, was not further explained by Amazon.


Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions
Yes, government influences wages – but not just in the way you might think
FDA Targets Hims & Hers Over $49 Weight-Loss Pill, Raising Legal and Safety Concerns
SpaceX Pushes for Early Stock Index Inclusion Ahead of Potential Record-Breaking IPO
Global PC Makers Eye Chinese Memory Chip Suppliers Amid Ongoing Supply Crunch
Canada’s local food system faces major roadblocks without urgent policy changes
India–U.S. Interim Trade Pact Cuts Auto Tariffs but Leaves Tesla Out
SoftBank and Intel Partner to Develop Next-Generation Memory Chips for AI Data Centers
Palantir Stock Jumps After Strong Q4 Earnings Beat and Upbeat 2026 Revenue Forecast
AI is driving down the price of knowledge – universities have to rethink what they offer
Missouri Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging Starbucks’ Diversity and Inclusion Policies
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility
Youth are charting new freshwater futures by learning from the water on the water
Nvidia, ByteDance, and the U.S.-China AI Chip Standoff Over H200 Exports
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals
Columbia Student Mahmoud Khalil Fights Arrest as Deportation Case Moves to New Jersey 



