Tomasz Wadowski
Will the upcoming Fire TV Stick models change the way we use our television? Everything suggests so. Amazon, as indicated by leaks and developer documents, is working on a new generation of its popular television "flash drives". The devices are expected to run on Android TV 14, and the main highlight of the update is set to be… artificial intelligence.
What do we know for sure?
An interesting clue has appeared online – in the official Android 14 documentation for developers, there is a section devoted to “creating applications for Fire TV devices with Android 14”. This is a strong suggestion that work on new models is already at an advanced stage. Although Amazon is keeping its cards close to its chest, experts expect primarily a refresh of the 4K version, which debuted in 2023. Interesting fact: the last new addition to the offering, the Fire TV Stick HD, hit the market a year ago. Is it now time for something more than just a better resolution?
Alexa with a “brain” like ChatGPT?
This is where we get to the tastiest morsel. On 26th February, Amazon is holding a conference where – as industry sources are buzzing – it will showcase Alexa 2.0. The assistant is set to gain generative artificial intelligence capabilities, similar to those known from ChatGPT. Can you imagine asking the television: “Hey, find that series I watched on Thursday – there was that actor with the beard…”, and Alexa not only understands but also provides the title? It sounds like sci-fi, but apparently, it’s truly on the way.
Catch? It will be more expensive.
Unfortunately, technological progress can come at a price. According to information provided by HDTV Test UK, access to advanced Alexa features may require a subscription of between 5 and 10 dollars per month. That's quite a burden on the wallet, especially since the Prime service itself already costs. Will users agree to pay extra for "smarter" voice commands? This is a question we will likely have the answer to with the premiere.
And how do you see it? Would you like to see such intelligent features in this year's television models, especially from Panasonic? A brand that has been synonymous with quality for years is now facing an uncertain future after announcing plans to sell its television division. Perhaps the integration of advanced AI solutions, such as Alexa with the new Fire TV, could be their lifeline? Or is it already too late to turn the situation around? Let us know what you think!
