TECHNOLOGY
China's Alibaba Group Holding Ltd launched on Wednesday a cut-price voice assistant speaker, similar to Amazon.
China's Alibaba Group Holding Ltd launched on Wednesday a cut-price voice assistant speaker, similar to Amazon.com Inc's "Echo", its first foray into artificially intelligent home devices.
The "Tmall Genie", named after the company's e-commerce platform Tmall, costs 499 yuan ($73.42), significantly less than western counterparts by Amazon and Alphabet Inc's Google , which range from $120 to $180.
These devices are activated by voice commands to perform tasks, such as checking calendars, searching for weather reports, changing music or control smart-home devices, using internet connectivity and artificial intelligence.
China's top tech firms have ambitions to become world leaders in artificial intelligence as companies, including Alibaba and Amazon, increasingly compete for the same markets.
Baidu, China's top search engine, which has invested in an artificial intelligence lab with the Chinese government, recently launched a device based on its own siri-like "Duer OS" system.
The Tmall Genie is currently programmed to use Mandarin as its language and will only be available in China. It is activated when a recognised user says "Tmall Genie" in Chinese.
In a streamed demonstration on Wednesday, engineers ordered the device to buy and deliver some Coca Cola, play music, add credit to a phone and activate a smart humidifier and TV.
The device, which comes in black and white, can also be tasked with purchasing goods from the company's Tmall platform, a function similar to Amazon's Echo device.
Alibaba has invested heavily in offline stores and big data capabilities in an effort to capitalise on the entire supply chain as part of its retail strategy, increasingly drawing comparisons with similar strategies adopted by Amazon.
It recently began rolling out unstaffed brick-and-motor grocery and coffee shops, using QR codes that users can scan to complete payment on its Alipay app, which has over 450 million users. Amazon launched a similar concept of stores in December. ($1=6.7962 yuan)
IND vs SA: Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma create history, India become first full-member team to....
IND vs SA, 4th T20I: Sanju Samson scripts history, becomes first player to achieve THIS massive feat
Dating Trends 2025: Micro-mance, DWM, male-casting and more to dominate the year
Navjot Singh Sidhu breaks silence on his exit from The Kapil Sharma Show: 'There were political...'
A true fashionista in Kennedy family: Who was the saree-loving aunt of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.?
PROBA-3 ABOARD ISRO’S PSLV : India to Launch Europe’s Sun Mission in December
An Indian village where frogs are married off, the reason is...
Studd Muffyn Life Presents Berberine: A Natural Powerhouse Tackling India's Metabolic Health Crisis
Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson: What is the prize money for this iconic fight?
What happened to Laika, first dog to ever travel in space?
Tara Sutaria REACTS amid dating rumours with Arunoday Singh: 'To be in love…'
CEO Kunal Shah to compete with Zerodha, Groww? CRED's subsidiary applies for stock broking license
Delhi air pollution: CM Atishi announces staggered working hours for govt workers amid 'severe' AQI
CBSE Date sheet 2025 to be released at...; when and how to check class 10, 12 timetable
This is world's most expensive nail polish costs more than 3 Mercedes, it's price is...
This Indian favourite has made it to the list of "50 best bean dishes" in the world
UPPSC prelims 2024 exam date announced, examination to happen in two shifts, check details here
SA vs IND: Arshdeep Singh eyes Yuzvendra Chahal's all-time India record in T20Is
Isha Ambani stuns in Giorgio Armani suit at Tira store launch in Mumbai
Mukesh Ambani's SUPERHIT affordable packs for Jio users: Get 10 GB data for just Rs...
'We have redone...': Shraddha Kapoor's Naagin to go on floors in 2025, producer reveals new details
'Those whom no one cares for, Modi worships them': PM Modi in Bihar rally
Congress targets PM Modi's Jamui visit, asks why hasn't Bihar been granted special category status
What is GRAP Stage 3, action plan implemented in Delhi-NCR to combat air pollution?
Sri Lanka Elections 2024: President Anura Dissanayake's party wins majority in general election
Haryana govt has implemented sub classification of Scheduled Castes for job quota
New Zealand’s youngest MP performs ‘haka’, rips up copy of bill in parliament, watch viral video
Amid Champions Trophy row, India emerges top contender to host 2025 tournament if…
Amitabh Bachchan does amazing Taekwondo move on KBC 16 sets, fans wonder if he is really 82
Shillong Teer Results November 15, 2024: Check updates on winning numbers
Boxing legend Mike Tyson slaps YouTuber Jake Paul during final staredown, watch viral video
7 companies led by Mukesh Ambani, Nita Ambani's daughter Isha Ambani
Shahid Afridi's BIG appeal to BCCI amid Champions Trophy crisis, says. 'If countries once...'
Donald Trump picks anti-vaccine activist Robert F Kennedy Jr as US Health Secretary
Manipur violence: AFSPA reimposed in 6 police station areas including troubled Jiribam
Delhi Air Pollution: Delhi-NCR engulfed in thick smog, AQI in 'severe' category
Is Elon Musk buying McDonald's after Donald Trump's win? Here's what we know so far
Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson live streaming: When and where to watch much-anticipated fight
US takes immigration issue 'incredibly seriously': State Dept amid visa delays
Guru Nanak Jayanti 2024: Are banks closed or open today? Check state-wise list here
Beaver moon 2024 today: All you need to know about 2024's last supermoon
Anil Ambani's Reliance Infra posts Rs 4082 crore profit in 3 months, market cap climbs to Rs...
Meet Prerna Singh, daughter of autorickshaw driver, who cracked NEET-UG, her score was...