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Sinead Butler
Jun 23, 2022
Alexa can channel the voices of the dead, Amazon says
Amazon
A new Amazon Alexa feature has been announced where the devices will be able to mimic anyone's voice - and many think it sounds like something straight out of a Black Mirrorepisode.
As part of a new update, Alexa will be able to copy a voice after hearing just one minute of an audio recording which means that the systems can also mimic the voice of dead people.
The online retailer gave a demonstration of this at its annual MARS conference which included a clip of a young boy asking Alexa to read a bedtime story in his dead grandmother's voice.
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"As you saw in this experience, instead of Alexa’s voice reading the book, it’s the kid’s grandma’s voice,” said Rohit Prasad, Amazon’s Alexa AI head scientist.
He explained how AI having human qualities is important "in these times of the ongoing pandemic when so many of us have lost someone we love.”
“While AI can’t eliminate that pain of loss, it can definitely make their memories last."
Though people online have been creeped out by the new feature and noted its chilling similarities to dystopian drama Black Mirror,Black Mirror,particularly the first episode of the show's second season called: "Be Right Back," which aired back in 2013.
The plot follows main character Martha (Hayley Atwell) who is grieving the loss of her boyfriend Ash (Domhnall Gleeson) who died in a car crash discovered and discovered an AI technology service that can imitate Ash whom she is able to communicate with
But the AI which uses Ash's past communications and social media profiles to recreate him can only reconstruct parts of his personality.
\u201cBlack Mirror is supposed to be a warning, not a pitch.\u201d— Noam Blum (@Noam Blum) 1655938583
\u201cBlack Mirror already told us how this ends\u201d— Sarah Smith (@Sarah Smith) 1655939514
\u201cThis is that Black Mirror episode with Haley Atwell\u201d— Zerlina Maxwell (@Zerlina Maxwell) 1655994463
\u201cthere was a whole black mirror episode telling us this is a bad idea cmon\u201d— \u222b\ud835\ude98\ud835\ude8b\ud835\ude92 (@\u222b\ud835\ude98\ud835\ude8b\ud835\ude92) 1655994490
\u201cit's like Black Mirror didn't teach us SHIT\u201d— \ud835\udd98\ud835\udd95\ud835\udd86\ud835\udd88\ud835\udd8a \ud835\udd92\ud835\udd94\ud835\udd99\ud835\udd94\ud835\udd88\ud835\udd94\ud835\udd9c\ud835\udd87\ud835\udd94\ud835\udd9e (@\ud835\udd98\ud835\udd95\ud835\udd86\ud835\udd88\ud835\udd8a \ud835\udd92\ud835\udd94\ud835\udd99\ud835\udd94\ud835\udd88\ud835\udd94\ud835\udd9c\ud835\udd87\ud835\udd94\ud835\udd9e) 1655985605
\u201cBlack Mirror: Season 2, Episode 1 \u201cBe Right Back\u201d\u201d— the oracle \ud835\udfd9\ud835\udfdb\ud83d\udc3a (@the oracle \ud835\udfd9\ud835\udfdb\ud83d\udc3a) 1655949594
\u201cI ask tech companies to please not use EVERY Black Mirror episode as inspiration.\u201d— Torsten Kathke (@Torsten Kathke) 1655992354
\u201cWe\u2019re officially in season 2 of Black Mirror.\u201d— Elad Nehorai (@Elad Nehorai) 1655951675
\u201chas anyone told jeff bezos that black mirror was supposed to be a warning and not a road map\u201d— Wrath Month Randall (@Wrath Month Randall) 1655955973
\u201cDid we not have a Black Mirror episode about why this is bad and not at all a cool thing to do.\u201d— Jordyn Hermani (@Jordyn Hermani) 1655989067
At the time of it being aired, TV critics described the Black Mirror episode as "a touching exploration of grief" and the tone as "creepy and moving in equal measure," which are similar sentiments being shared about the new voice update.
Meanwhile, Black Mirror fans were disappointed that the series wasn't trending because of any new details about season six which was announced last month.
The last series was released on Netflix three years ago in 2019 so viewers are keen for more episodes.
\u201cBlack Mirror is always trending but never because a new season is being announced. Breaks my heart every time\u201d— Bria (@Bria) 1655995991
\u201cStop making Black Mirror trend if it\u2019s not about a new season\u201d— bella butcher (@bella butcher) 1655993648
\u201cAnother day of me getting excited seeing Black Mirror trending, but no new seasons coming out\u201d— jeyda\ud83e\udd0e (@jeyda\ud83e\udd0e) 1655989454
\u201cBlack Mirror is trending, I was excited it's a new season but nope, it's just real life #thanksalexa\u201d— Oliya Scootercaster (@Oliya Scootercaster) 1655944255
\u201cEvery time Black Mirror trends I really, really hope it\u2019s for a new season. \n\nNever is.\u201d— Katy L. Wood \ud83d\udd8a\ud83c\udfa8 \ud83d\udc99\ud83d\udc9b (@Katy L. Wood \ud83d\udd8a\ud83c\udfa8 \ud83d\udc99\ud83d\udc9b) 1655992496
In the new season announcement by Variety, it was confirmed that there will be more episodes than season five which had just three and is said to be more of "cinematic in scope," though no release date has been confirmed.
By the looks of it, tech companies like Amazon will definitely be tuning in when the new episodes drop.
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