Amazon Alexa at 10: Voice Assistant's Unrealized Potential

Despite widespread adoption, Alexa remains limited in capabilities, struggling to evolve beyond basic functions.

Amazon Alexa was introduced in 2014 with the ambition to become an omniscient voice assistant like Star Trek's 'Computer'.
Over 40 million Echo devices are in U.S. homes, but Alexa's functions remain largely unchanged, focusing on simple tasks like playing music and setting timers.
The platform's 'skills' ecosystem, intended to expand Alexa's capabilities, has faced challenges with user interface and developer engagement.
Amazon's efforts to integrate Alexa into more devices have not significantly advanced its core intelligence or usability.
Future improvements may hinge on advancements in AI and large language models, though Amazon faces competition from Google and Apple in the smart home space.