Tomasz Wadowski
Will the upcoming Fire TV Stick models change the way we use our TV? All signs point to yes. Amazon, according to leaks and developer documents, is working on a new generation of its popular TV "pendrives." The devices are to run on Android TV 14, and the main star of the update is to be... artificial intelligence.
What do we know for sure?
An interesting clue has appeared online – the official documentation for Android 14 for developers includes a section dedicated to "building 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 primarily expect a refresh of the 4K version, which debuted in 2023. An interesting fact: the last new product in the lineup, Fire TV Stick HD, hit the market a year ago. Is it now time for something more than just better resolution?
Alexa with a "brain" of ChatGPT?
Here we come to the most delicious morsel. On February 26, Amazon is organizing a conference where – as industry outlets speculate – it will present Alexa 2.0. The assistant is set to gain generative artificial intelligence capabilities, similar to those known from ChatGPT. Can you imagine asking your TV: “Hey, find that series I watched on Thursday – it had that actor with a beard…”, and Alexa not only understanding but also providing the title? It sounds like sci-fi, but apparently, that’s what's coming.
Hook? It will be more expensive.
Unfortunately, technological progress can come at a cost. According to information provided by HDTV Test UK, access to advanced Alexa features may require a subscription ranging from 5 to 10 dollars a month. This is quite a burden on the wallet, especially since the Prime service itself already costs. Will users agree to pay extra for "smarter" voice commands? That’s a question we will likely have the answer to with the release.
And how do you see it? Would you like to see such intelligent features in this year's TV 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!
