Get Fully Briefed with Yahoo Finance, delivered straight to your inbox.
Amazon Alexa will be the foundation of BMW's next-generation voice assistant, the companies announced Wednesday at Amazon's annual Devices and Services launch event.
The German automaker and Amazon have had a business relationship for years now; BMW started offering the Alexa assistant in select cars starting in 2018 and the partnership has grown from there.
This announcement stands out, however. BMW won't just embed Alexa into vehicles as it has in the past. It will use the Amazon technology to build its own assistant. The first vehicles with the new generation of BMW's voice assistant will launch within the next two years.
The idea, if executed well, will give BMW access to Amazon tech and allow it to focus on creating specific automotive features.
Stephan Durach, senior VP of the connected company and development technical operations at BMW Group, said this approach will bring the digital experience to an entirely new level.
It also shows how Amazon is attempting to capture more marketshare within the automotive industry, which Dave Limp, senior VP of devices and services at Amazon, hinted at in his remarks.
"This cooperation with BMW is a great example of what Alexa Custom Assistant was designed for — to make it faster and easier for companies to develop custom intelligent assistants for virtually any device, without the cost and complexity of building from the ground up," Limp said.
In other words, Amazon sees this as the next step in its plan to dominate — or at least try to — the experience in the car. Amazon also introduced the second-generation of Echo Auto, a more compact device with new features that aim to broaden the e-commerce giant's reach by bringing its Alexa voice assistant into more vehicles.
Notably, customers will still be able choose to use either the BMW voice assistant, Alexa individually, or have both assistants work alongside each other.
Interest rates are rising, rents are going up and the cost of living is the highest it’s been since the 1990’s. So, if you don’t already have a budget in place it might be time to put one together. Making a budget can be tedious, or even overwhelming but it can really help you feel more on top of your finances and hopefully save some money too.
Aussies have switched their superannuation investments this year. Here’s why it can be risky.
The cost of living has surged again with inflation hitting 7 per cent as the Australian Bureau of Statistics starts presenting monthly data. This is what you need to know.
Thousands of first home buyers’ chances of entering the property market have been given a boost with a new government scheme. But there are a few strings attached.
Aussie renters paid thousands more on rent last year. It comes as the cost of living skyrockets and some are forced to choose between rent and food.
Aussies on this form of welfare will soon be able to earn thousands of dollars more each year without their payments being impacted. Find out why.
US stock indexes have slipped as worries of a global economic downturn from aggressive central bank rate hikes and risks of potential contagion from a turmoil in UK markets turned investors risk averse.Out of the 11 S&P; sector indexes, six of them dropped more than 2.
Premier Investment shares have soared to a four-month high after the Smiggle, Just Jeans and Peter Alexander brand owner announced an almost five per cent rise in full-year profit and a share buyback of up to $50 million.2m in statutory net profit after tax in the 12 months to July 30, up 4.
Aussies investors are trusting the advice of financial influencers, despite recent crackdowns on the industry.
The local market is expected to lift slightly, and fuel prices set to hike as the fuel excise is lifted today. This is your Tuesday morning wrap.
As the cost of living increases many Australians are cutting back on expenses, and streaming TV subscriptions like Netflix are often the first things to go. But does this short-term sacrifice pay off financially in the long term?
Wall Street has ended sharply higher following its recent sell-off, helped by falling Treasury yields, while Apple dropped on concerns about demand for iPhones.The strong gains came after the S&P; 500 on Tuesday closed at its lowest since late 2020, dragging US stocks further into bear market territory.
The local market is expected to rise this morning after the Bank of England stepped in to help after the pound collapsed. This is your Thursday morning wrap.
The most common passwords in Australia have been revealed. Here are the passwords to avoid.
Aussies looking to hold the upper hand when buying a home may want to look at these suburbs where there are plenty of properties on the market. This is where they are.
An emergency fund is a great way to cover those unexpected costs that crop up because life can be unexpected. You might lose your job, your car might need repairs or you might get hit with a big dental or medical bill. But despite the best of intentions 1 in 5 Australians say they don’t have any emergency savings to fall back on at all. So how do you build an emergency fund – and how much should you aim to save? In a perfect world experts say that you should have 6 months salary stashed away, but if this just isn’t realistic for you – then set something that is – after all something is better than nothing.
The temporary fuel excise cut ends at midnight tonight. Petrol prices are set to soar by 25 cents per litre. But there’s one simple way to save.
As we head into peak wedding season the question of wedding gifts, or more accurately wedding cash gifts comes up. Is it okay for couples to request money instead of gifts and if yes, just how much is expected?
If your details have been compromised, you may be able to replace your driver’s licence for free. See what applies in your state or territory.
There are more unemployed people than job vacancies as the job boom continues. Here’s which industries are feeling the pinch.