Amazon has cut paid benefits for Alexa developers. With more focus on generative AI, third-party voice assistant apps (skills) are not a priority. An Amazon spokesperson told Engadget that “the older programs have simply become obsolete, so we have decided to discontinue them.”
The program launched in 2017, when Alexa was all the rage, and paid developers bonuses for skills that resonated with users. It was part of Amazon’s push to turn Alexa Skills into a booming app store. (Did that happen?)
At the company’s fall 2023 device event, Amazon unveiled its next-gen version of Alexa, with ChatGPT-like generative AI capabilities. Thanks to AI capabilities, Alexa seemed versatile enough to answer all kinds of questions and requests without having to manually create apps and skills. Alexa isn’t going anywhere; Amazon just lets you think for yourself.
– Mat Smith
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Magic Eraser, Photo UnBlur, Magic Editor and more will be generally available in May.
Free Google Photos users get advanced editing features without paying more than $20 per year. This means that all users will get some of Google’s AI-powered tools, such as Photo UnBlur, Magic Eraser, and Magic Editor. I can confirm: Photo UnBlur is a game-changer when it comes to photographing young children. Not. Remain. Despite it.
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It works on T-Mobile and AT&T networks.
Amazon is offering the Nothing Phone 2 on sale for the first time since its launch. The offbeat mainstream smartphone alternative is $74 cheaper than its usual price of $625. The offer includes the version with 12 GB RAM and 256 GB storage and can be activated with T-Mobile or AT&T.
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The game will also receive Contra DLC in May.
Hit in retro Bullet Hell Rogue style Vampire survivors is coming to PlayStation – possibly the only platform where it hasn’t already been available. The game is also receiving a series of crossover DLC on May 9th. Vampire Survivors: Operation Guns brings Cons Characters and weapons, so expect a lot more weapons. 22 of them, to be exact.
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