- Feb 26, 2025
- 4 min read
Hello, AI Enthusiasts.
Midweek hustle or midweek pause? Either way, AI keeps evolving!
Amazon just gave Alexa a major upgrade, promising more natural conversations and the ability to handle complex tasks..It’s built to understand you better—but is it as good as it sounds?
Meanwhile, Alibaba is shaking up AI video generation by open-sourcing its models for researchers, academics, and businesses worldwide.
And on the humanitarian front, AI is being tested as a tool to pinpoint and assist people in extreme poverty—offering a data-driven approach to social good.
Here's another crazy day in AI:
Amazon’s latest voice assistant upgrade is here
Alibaba’s AI video model goes open source
Can AI help end poverty? A global experiment
Some AI tools to try out
TODAY'S FEATURED ITEM: Smarter Assistance with Alexa+
Source: Amazon
Is the new Alexa finally the smart assistant we’ve been waiting for?
Amazon is rolling out Alexa+, a more advanced version of its voice assistant designed to be more intuitive and conversational. Unlike previous versions that relied on strict commands, Alexa+ understands natural speech, making interactions feel smoother and more human-like. Whether you need help managing your home, summarizing documents, or keeping up with your favorite artists, this upgrade is built to handle more complex tasks with less effort on your part. And if you're a Prime member, you'll get access at no extra cost.
What’s New with Alexa+
More Natural Conversations – Can follow up on previous interactions, reducing the need for repetitive commands.
Smarter Task Handling – Organizes schedules, manages reminders, and streamlines shopping lists.
Personalized Assistance – Learns from your habits to offer recommendations and proactive suggestions.
Seamless Across Devices – Continues conversations across different Alexa-enabled devices without resetting context.
AI-Powered Features – Summarizes documents, searches the web, and assists with content creation.
Updated Privacy Settings – Offers improved data controls and transparency features.
Free for Prime Members – Included with a Prime subscription, while non-members can subscribe for $19.99 per month.
Voice assistants have been around for years, with varying degrees of usefulness. The current generation often struggles with complex requests or requires specific phrasing to work correctly. Alexa+ attempts to address these limitations by focusing on natural conversation and independent task completion. Users can speak normally and expect the system to understand context, remember previous interactions, and take initiative when appropriate.
These more capable AI assistants bring both convenience and considerations. On one hand, having technology that can handle multiple steps without constant guidance could save time on routine tasks. On the other hand, this functionality requires sharing more personal data and trusting algorithms to make decisions. Different users will have different comfort levels with automation versus manual control, and different privacy preferences. As companies continue developing these systems, consumers will need to evaluate the balance between convenience and privacy that works best for their individual needs.
Read the full article here.
Watch the video here.
OTHER INTERESTING AI HIGHLIGHTS:
Alibaba’s AI Video Model Goes Open Source
/Arjun Kharpal on CNBC
Alibaba is open-sourcing its AI video generation models, making them free for researchers, academics, and businesses worldwide. The models, part of its Wan2.1 series, can generate both images and videos from text and image inputs, placing Alibaba in direct competition with OpenAI and other proprietary AI developers. This move aligns with a growing trend in open-source AI, following the disruptive emergence of DeepSeek, a Chinese firm that rattled global markets with its low-cost AI model. Alibaba’s strategic decision underscores the debate over whether AI models will become commoditized, as Chinese companies continue to push open-source alternatives to proprietary models.
Read more here.
Can AI Help End Poverty? A Global Experiment
/Carrie Arnold on Nature
AI is being tested as a tool to identify and assist people in extreme poverty, offering a faster and more scalable alternative to traditional methods. In Togo’s Novissi project, AI analyzed satellite images and mobile data to determine who should receive direct cash aid during the pandemic. While AI-driven poverty measurement is promising, critics warn of biases, inaccuracies, and exclusion of those without digital footprints. Still, researchers argue that traditional methods are also flawed, and AI could help governments and aid organizations allocate resources more effectively. The debate over AI’s role in social welfare is just beginning, but early results suggest it could be a powerful tool in the fight against poverty.
Read more here.
Download pdf here.
SOME AI TOOLS TO TRY OUT:
EasyGen - AI-powered LinkedIn post generator optimized for engagement.
Landing.so - Instantly create keyword-based landing pages with AI.
Carousel Studio - Generate LinkedIn carousels in minutes with Canva templates.
That’s a wrap on today’s Almost Daily craziness.
Catch us almost every day—almost! 😉
EXCITING NEWS:
The Another Crazy Day in AI newsletter is now on LinkedIn!!!
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