Amazon unveiled some updated hardware yesterday at an event, and apparently is using AI to make Alexa ‘smarter.’ Theverge.com reports that the online giant showed off the Echo Show 8…the third generation, as well as a new Echo Hub and a forth generation Echo smart speaker. They will have both Thread and Zigbee connectivity, which should make it much easier to connect to whatever smart home gadgets you might decide to add. Amazon is also getting set to ‘supercharge’ Alexa with generative AI. this new and improved Alexa can understand conversational phrases and respond appropriately, interpret context more effectively, and complete multiple requests from one command. Right now, Amazon plans to roll out the updated Alexa slowly via a preview program in ‘the coming months’ and in the US only for now. Amazon did warn as they add features to the generative AI Alexa there may be some point where you will be charged fees for the extra service. Yep…every firm you deal with is giddy with the thought of charging all of us more monthly fees. 

Before it was put on hold after the market turned down, Apple and Goldman Sachs were working on a stock trading service for iPhone users. Originally, it was intended to launch in 2022, but after the market slid, Cupertino put the feature on hold. According to 9to5mac.com, Apple doesn’t have current plans to go ahead and launch the stock trading for iPhones, but apparently most of the infrastructure for the service is ‘ready to go’ should they decide to green light it.

Cisco is snapping up cybersecurity firm Splunk for some $28 billion in cash. CNBC says that amounts to about t$157 a share. It is one of the biggest acquisitions by Cisco so far. Splunk is a cybersecurity company that helps enterprises monitor and analyze their data to minimize the risk of hacks and resolve technical issues faster. So far this year, Cisco has been on a bit of a buying spree, picking up Armorblox, Oort, Valtrix, and Lightspin. All of those relate in some way to cyber security as does Splunk. 

The Post Office is restarting its program for shipping free COVID tests to US households. Cnet.com reports that the White House is dropping $600 million on getting new at-home kits produced. The USPS has been sending out free COVID-19 tests since January 2022, to the tune of some 20 per household for those that took part. Unlike some complicated government applications, ordering free tests from the Postal Service is simple. It takes less than two minutes to complete a short form asking for your name and mailing address, and the tests ship in about a week or two.

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.