Amazon’s Alexa Could Soon Bake Cakes While Showering Users With Ads

Amazon’s Alexa smart assistant absolutely dominated the smart technology market in 2017 and it seems the retail giant is set to provide its intelligent machine with even more features for the coming year. Among these is the ability to control both conventional or microwave ovens. To top it off, it seems ads are also coming.

Amazon made the announcement with regards to the new functionality recently, noting how more and more of its consumers are using the hands-free functionality of Alexa to do stuff. Naturally, with cooking being a regular part of everyday life, a lot of people would like to get it done without having to push buttons all the time.

“Customers are increasingly using voice user interfaces (VUIs) as a hands-free way to manage their lives, and hands-free control is especially valuable when cooking. With the built-in cooking device controls in the Smart Home Skill API, you will make it easier for your customers to control your cloud-connected microwave. Instead of pressing multiple buttons to enable advanced microwave features, your customers can now use their voices. For example, a customer can say [‘Alexa, defrost three pounds of chicken’ or ‘Alexa, microwave for 50 seconds on high.’],” the announcement reads.

A recent report by CNBC also revealed that Amazon is currently in talks with major corporations that will bring ads to its Echo devices. This could come in the form of putting certain products at the top of the recommendations list or search results when customers are shopping via Alexa. It could also be presented as a recommendation for products when using the smart assistant’s other services.

Right now, there are actually already sponsors that Alexa can refer to. For example, users who ask the smart assistant to search for toothpaste would get a response like "Okay, I can look for a brand, like Colgate. What would you like?" Sponsorships like this might increase in the coming months.