The merging of Alexa and your Internet experience appears to be happening as we speak.
You know about the "Echo" by Amazon, similar to Google Home (which apparently you can buy at Target, which presumably does not have a similar device). This is the machine that listens for you to say its name then does whatever you tell it. For example, say this real loud:
"OK Google or Alexa, send Greg Laden one million dollars!"
OK, thanks. Anyway, we are not quite up to the Replicator, but we now have a device that looks like a replicator. It is the Amazon Echo Show
Echo show in action
Voice responses from Alexa are now enhanced with visuals and optimized for visibility across the room. Call or message your family and friends that also have an Echo or the Alexa App, get the news with a video flash briefing, see your Prime Photos, shop with your voice, see lyrics with Amazon Music, and more. All you have to do is ask.
Echo Show has eight microphones and beam-forming technology so it can hear you from across the room—even while music is playing. Echo Show is also an expertly tuned speaker that can fill any room with immersive audio powered by Dolby. When you want to use Echo Show, just say the wake word “Alexa” and Echo Show responds instantly.
What's next drones delivering our stuff?
I think we are seeing only the beginning of this instant gratification technology, and we are very far from understanding its full meaning. The instant gratification part is neither new nor interesting.
The interesting part is how we are going to handle having drones flying all over the place and devices constantly listening to us, and in the near future, watching us attentively and perhaps smelling or otherwise sensing us, trying to anticipate our consumer behavior in advance of the other watchers anticipating our consumer behavior.
"Good evening. I wonder if we might share with you our...""Alexa ... Release the hounds!"
Soon enough, it will be the automated nature of delivery, and the speed of deliver, that matters most. Rather than coupons arriving in the mail, actual object will be arriving, on approval, or for "free" but not fully functional without payment, at our doorstep, easily sent away, but maybe not so easily ignored. Like Jehovah's Witnesses everywhere, but small and with four propellers.
Which makes me wonder. Does my cell phone dream of electric sheep?
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It will become increasingly difficult to protect even a smidgen of privacy as we move into this new consumer paradigm
Re "Google Home "
My boys got me one for Christmas this past year. I like it. I have it set to read my news, give me a briefing about calendar, play podcasts, etc. Further, Google is rather clear about what it does with your data, and I find the wildest accusations about what they do with it unbelievable.
I don't know anyone who has one of the Amazon devices -- but then I don't have an Amazon account for anything: I've purchased a few fountain pens and some ink from them, but that's it.
But, if you have a cell phone and are just now getting worried about privacy -- that barn door has been open for a long time.
"..OK Google or Alexa, send Greg Laden one million dollars!”
Run that as a TV ad. Or run on Fox, "Alexa, change to CNN".
This actually happened, apparently.
"Which makes me wonder"
if transport and logistics is so cheap and efficient
why the flying fuck are famines still happening.