TECH NEWS

Amazon Commences Localized Testing of Generative AI-Powered ‘Alexa+’ in India to Target Hindi Speakers

In a major step expanding its conversational artificial intelligence outside of Western markets, Amazon has officially commenced pilot testing for Alexa+, its next-generation, generative AI-revamped voice assistant, in India. The tech giant has started dispatching exclusive email invitations to select customers across the country, inviting them to participate in an early beta program tailored specifically around Hindi-language interactions.

Overhauling Legacy Systems for a Linguistic Market

The localized trial marks a notable architectural evolution for Amazon’s smart home ecosystem. The standard rule-and-command-based Alexa originally debuted in India with English capabilities in 2017, followed by a dedicated Hindi update in 2019. However, that legacy framework often struggled to grasp conversational nuances.

By employing an advanced generative AI architecture—engineered using a proprietary blend of internal technology alongside third-party models from Anthropic—the upgraded Alexa+ promises a shift away from pre-programmed scripts toward highly natural, fluid, and context-aware dialogue. The initial testbed aims to tap...

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European Commission lines up Amazon and Microsoft for cloud gatekeeper status

Preliminary position calls for designation under the Digital Markets Act The European Commission has reached the preliminary position that Azure and AWS should be designated as gatekeepers under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The gatekeeper designation would mean requirements imposed on the cloud giants, with fines of up to 10

https://media.thenextweb.com/2026/06/Andrey-Pivovarov.avif

Russia cracked an activist’s iPhone with Cellebrite, months after the firm said it left

A Citizen Lab report puts forensic evidence and a Russian court document behind a familiar problem: surveillance tools do not come home when the seller asks. Russian government unit broke into the iPhone of a detained opposition politician using a forensic tool made by Cellebrite, three months after the Israeli

https://media.thenextweb.com/2026/06/China-flag.avif

China wants its green power wired straight into the data centre

In the desert outside Zhongwei, in the northwestern region of Ningxia, four dedicated power lines now run from a field of solar panels to a cluster of computers. They do not pass through the public grid. That detail, dull as it sounds, is the whole point. China is encouraging its

REI pulls AI-generated bike ad after Meta turns it into a two-handled monstrosity

Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. Facepalm: They say AI-generated images are becoming harder to spot, but that's not always the case. A recent Instagram ad for outdoor gear retail giant REI Co-op, for example, included a bike

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European Commission lines up Amazon and Microsoft for cloud gatekeeper status

Russia cracked an activist’s iPhone with Cellebrite, months after the firm said it left

China wants its green power wired straight into the data centre

REI pulls AI-generated bike ad after Meta turns it into a two-handled monstrosity