【1999 Archives】

What if Amazon's Alexa999 Archivestell you the weather in a much more excited and profane way?

At its annual hardware event on Wednesday, Amazon revealeda slew of updates to its virtual assistant, including the ability to add the voice of Samuel L. Jackson.

Amazon is using neural text-to-speech technology to replicate the iconic actor's voice, instead of having him record canned lines to repeat ad nauseam. That seems pretty creepy, but if it works, it works.

Mashable Light Speed Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories? Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

---

You May Also Like

---

---

The Samuel L. Jackson Alexa personality is launching later this year. Anyone who buys it in 2019 will get it for just $0.99. Humorously, there will be explicit and non-explicit versions of his voice available for use.

Alexa just keeps getting more Alexa-y. Credit: Thomas Trutschel/Photothek via Getty Images

Amazon also announced a "deep learning model" that will allow Alexa to understand vocal inflections. If she senses frustration, she'll recognize it, according to Amazon. That will roll out next year.

SEE ALSO: Amazon’s Alexa will allow users to donate to presidential candidates

In more important but less glitzy news, Alexa is getting some new privacy and ease-of-use options. Starting now, users can ask "Alexa, tell me what you heard" and she'll give read back your last voice command. Later this year, Amazon will add an "Alexa, why did you do that?" command that will force Alexa to explain her most recent response to you.

Since people have been justifiably weirded out by the way Alexa stores voice recordings, Amazon is also adding an auto-delete toggle in the Privacy Hub. The rolling deletion tool will automatically purge anything older than three months or 18 months, depending on which the user chooses.

Topics Amazon Amazon Alexa Cybersecurity Privacy

• Social Good
• Shopping
• Deals
• Entertainment
• Games
• Life
• Tech
• Digital Culture

• Fritz vs. Ruud 2025 livestream: Watch Madrid Open for free
• The best Amazon Prime Day USB
• 'Rugrats' is making a big comeback, but there's a catch
• The Mountain teases big scene in 'Game of Thrones' Season 8. Cleganebowl?
• Waitin’ on the Student Debt Jubilee
• The left explodes at media after Hillary Clinton declared presumptive nominee
• You can now use Bitmoji to flirt on Tinder
• Laila Ali shares sweet photo of her dad with his granddaughter
• Best robot vacuum deal: Save $400 on the roborock Q5 Pro+
• JK Rowling calls critics of black Hermione 'a bunch of racists'

• Forget your Hogwarts House, here's how you can identify instead
• BTS gave $1 million to Black Lives Matter. The Army wants to match it.
• Part 1: Nathaniel Rich’s Trousers by Clancy Martin
• Twitter will keep your $1,000 if you apply for Verified Organizations status and don't get it
• A Week in Culture: Chris Weitz, Director by Chris Weitz
• 'Cops' has been canceled at the Paramount Network
• Into the Deep by Lori Nix
• During a pandemic, protest livestreams are more important than ever
• BabyNames.com makes a powerful statement on Black Lives Matter
• How to recycle Amazon packaging (yes, all of it)

• The Mismeasure of Media
• This is Twitter's new emoji for the EU referendum
• The first 'Aquaman' poster has so many scary fish on it
• Families separated at the border can't afford to be reunited. Here's how you can help.
• How to Easily Make iPhone Ringtones Using Only iTunes
• This moment in Sacha Baron Cohen's 'Who Is America?' is truly alarming for women
• The internet might make ADHD symptoms worse for teens
• Glastonbury festival has announced a women
• Supercharge Your Desktop and Mobile Productivity With These Clipboard Managers
• Amazon boss Jeff Bezos was the richest person in modern history today

• WhatsApp launches 'Advanced Chat Privacy' to protect sensitive conversations
• You can now use Bitmoji to flirt on Tinder
• Amazon workers on strike as Prime Day kicks off
• Massive 11
• New Zealand will ban plastic bags for good
• Amazon is down for some users and HAPPY PRIME DAY
• A designer has created inverted jeans. Why?
• Check out a perfect look at Tom Hardy as disturbing 'Venom'
• UGREEN Nexode 25000mAh 200W power bank drops to $79.99 at Amazon
• MMA fighter Kimbo Slice dies aged 42