Amazon stepped into the spotlight this week with a big Alexa upgrade: specifically, Alexa+, the AI catchup we’ve been waiting for. I went to the big reveal, which was as much a showcase for the Echo Show 21-inch (used for almost every single demo) as it was Amazon’s answer to ChatGPT and Gemini.
Of course, the difference between those generative AI systems and Alexa+ is that Amazon’s AI system is really tied to your home life and smart home. Many of the demos we saw were about managing schedules, buying groceries, and checking smart cameras. But all of it was done in the most conversational way. When I finally got my own hands-on demo, I was a bit startled at how easy it is to converse with Alexa+. Personally, I think the AI race just got a lot more interesting.
Hours later, reviews for Apple’s new iPhone 16e dropped, including mine. It's a "budget" iPhone that is a lot more expensive than the iPhone SE it replaces. Let's just say that no one is lining up at Apple Stores for this iPhone.
There's a lot more buzz about GPT-4.5, the more emotionally intuitive version of the chatbot model that arrived in researchers' hands this week. If it works as promised, your future conversations with ChatGPT will be indistinguishable from ones with a real person. I prefer this to two chatbots talking to each other in a secret language (see below). No thank you.
Whichever AI you prefer talking to, you may want to ask about the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge. We got a glimpse of it at the Galaxy Unpacked event but now we think we know when this ultra-thin Android phone will ship – and it's sooner than you think.
As usual, we also have our list of the best and freshest streaming content you can view this weekend, but if you're like me, you're cramming for the Oscars, which air on Sunday. Some nominated movies, like Anora, are already rentable on your favorite streamers – and, better yet, the Oscars will stream on Hulu this year too (or ITV1 in the UK, and Channel 7 in Australia). I will be watching.
Have fun filling out your Oscar ballot and we'll see you all next week.
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Amazon finally announced its next-gen AI-powered Alexa+ assistant – and we've got all the details on how it works, when it'll be available, and what you can do with it.
The iPhone 16e is the ostensible successor to the 2022 iPhone SE 3, but as our full review of the latest iPhone will tell you, this handset is the start of an all-new series.
ChatGPT is getting a major intelligence upgrade with a new GPT-4.5 AI model – a model which is both smarter and easier to chat to, according to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
We've seen three Galaxy S25 phones launched, and there's one more to go – and the latest rumor suggests an exact date when the Galaxy S25 Edge will be unveiled.
Looking to fill your weekend with streaming entertainment? We've got some top picks for you, including the big Oscars show, and what seems to be Netflix's answer to Ted Lasso.
