Amazon’s Echo devices now allow children to engage in interactive conversations with the AI-powered voice assistant, Alexa, through the new feature called “Explore with Alexa.”
The feature, added to the +Amazon Kids subscription, enables children to have age-appropriate conversations with Alexa in a secure and child-friendly manner.
Amazon is one of the first companies to specifically explore the use of Generative AI to develop a conversational experience for children under the age of 13.
To ensure the experience remains safe and appropriate, Amazon has implemented protective guardrails concerning their use of Generative AI for children, this includes addressing potential incorrect responses and inappropriate questions.
The +Amazon Kids subscription team has limited the scope of the new experience, which leverages a large language model also known as Alexa, to include kid-friendly fun facts and general questions.
Over time, they aim to expand the use of Generative AI to include other important areas for children, such as space, music, video games, and sports.
The Generative AI experience does not occur in real-time on the device. Amazon does not connect the experience with a large language model during device operation; instead, it leverages the large language model to generate content more broadly without internet connectivity.
The content for the experience is reviewed by a blend of human and AI processes. Given the vast number of possible responses the Generative AI can generate, the human element assists Amazon in reviewing the material used in the experience.
In the coming months, Amazon plans to allow Alexa to ask children questions on certain occasions if they would like to hear something interesting about animals.
The Generative AI experience operates in two ways, meaning it’s not limited to children asking questions to Alexa; now, Alexa also asks children questions.
Amazon intends to integrate this Generative AI experience into real-time for both children and adults, but they are proceeding with caution, especially with children.
Later this year, Amazon is preparing to launch an AI-powered Alexa experience for adults called “Let’s Chat” based on the large language model Alexa.
The new Echo Pop Kids speakers are now available for purchase starting at $50 in the United States. They come with two new designs, Marvel’s Avengers and Disney Princess.
