Posts tagged "answer"

Amazon tests a new AI assistant to answer your questions while you shop
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Amazon is reportedly testing a new AI assistant on its mobile app that can answer customer questions about specific products.

This feature appears to have been initially discovered by e-commerce research firm Marketplace Pulse. According to the firm, the AI can be found under the “Looking for specific info?” section on product pages. The LLM (large language model) powering the feature relies on listing details provided by companies and user reviews to generate responses to inquiries. For example, you can ask if a particular workout shirt is good for running or if it fits well on a tall person. Marketplace Pulse states its main purpose is to save people the trouble of having to read individual reviews by summarizing all the information present into a succinct block of text. 

Amazon AI assistant

(Image credit: Marketplace Pulse/Amazon)

Because it’s in the early stages, the AI assistant is limited in what it can do. You can’t command it to compare two items or “find alternatives.” Although it can’t recommend specific products, Amazon’s chatbot can make soft suggestions. In another example, MarketPlace Pulse asked the app assistant if e-bikes are good for romantic dates. The AI said “not really” and recommended buying a tandem bike instead.

Quirks and unintended features

There are several quirks affecting the chatbot. Unsurprisingly, it’s “prone [to] hallucinating wrong information” about an item. MarketPlace Pulse even claims it outright refused to “answer basic questions”. What’s more, the assistant is capable of answering prompts that apparently “Amazon didn’t build it for.” 

It can generate Python code, write jokes about a product, or answer in languages besides English. CNBC had access to the test and was reportedly successful in describing items “in the style of Yoda from Star Wars.” Despite these abilities, you can’t hold a regular conversation with the AI like you could with ChatGPT.

Amazon's AI assistant quirks

(Image credit: Marketplace Pulse/Amazon)

It’s unknown how widespread the test is. We didn't have access on our phone. Amazon hasn’t said anything official so far, but we reached out to the platform asking for more information about the AI. We also asked Marketplace Pulse if it knows whether the assistant is available to a lot of people or just a select group. This story will be updated at a later time.

Alexa upgrade

Amazon’s AI ambitions don’t stop there as a report from Business Insider reveals the tech giant is currently working on a revamped and paid version of Alexa. The upgrade is called Alexa Plus, which is said to offer a “more conversational and personalized” experience akin to ChatGPT.

The team is aiming to launch Alexa Plus on June 30, according to the report. Unfortunately, development is not going smoothly. A source with intimate knowledge told Business Insider the revamp is “falling short of expectations”. The AI is reportedly hallucinating false information as the team is having a hard time getting the tech to work properly. The project may also be causing a lot of internal fighting with some arguing people are not going to want to pay for another Amazon service.

At a glance, it seems Alexa Plus might miss the June 30 deadline.

If you want your own digital sidekick, check out TechRadar's list of the best AI-powered virtual assistants.

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Google working on an AI assistant that could answer ‘impossible’ questions about you
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Google is reportedly developing an AI assistant that will analyze personal photos, files, as well as Search results with the goal of telling “your life story”.

This news comes from CNBC which saw documents revealing that the tech giant recently held an “internal summit” where company execs and employees presented Project Ellman. According to the piece, the AI will offer a “bird’s–eye view” of someone’s life by grabbing files from your Google Account, and utilizing written biographies and adjacent content to understand context. This process includes sifting through the information files to pinpoint important moments. The Google employees claimed Project Ellman could deduce the day a user was born, who their parents are, and if they have any siblings. 

It doesn’t stop there because apparently, it's able to highlight chapters in your life like the years you spent at college or living in a certain city. Ellman can even learn your eating habits. If, for example, you upload a bunch of photos of pizza and pasta, the AI can infer that perhaps you’re a big fan of Italian food. The tech isn’t restricted to one person either as it can identify friends and family, plus social events you’ve been to.

Based on the report’s description alone, Project Ellman sounds very reminiscent of Memories on Google Photos, although on a much wider scale. 

Personal chatbot

CNBC states the presentation continued with demonstrating Ellman Chat, which was described as ChatGPT, but with the ability to “answer previously impossible questions”. Judging by the examples given, the questions aren’t necessarily impossible; just tricky especially if you're a forgetful person. For instance, you can ask the chatbot the last time your brother visited or for suggestions on a location you can move to based on the pictures you upload. 

Then we get to what may be one of Project Ellman’s secret purposes. By analyzing the screenshots users upload, the tech can make all sorts of predictions – from products you might buy, what interests you may have, plus future travel plans. The presenters also pitched the idea that it can learn what websites you frequent.

Project Ellman may know you better than you know yourself.

Analysis: All about you

We don’t think we have to tell you just how creepy all this sounds. We’re talking about an AI diving deep into your files, scrounging for every bit of data it can grab. Where is all that information going? 

Gemini, Google's new large language model (LLM) is implied to be the model that’ll power Project Ellman because it’s multimodal, or in other words, it can accept multiple forms of inputs besides text. Generative AIs need a constant stream of content to stay up to date. It seems like Google might be pole-vaulting over privacy boundaries, seeking more data to feed Gemini and keep it growing.

Granted, there’s no guarantee Ellman will ever see the light of day. A Google spokesperson told CNBC this is all an “early internal exploration”. If there are plans for a release, developers will take the time to ensure it’s helpful to people while keeping user privacy at the forefront. 

We urge you to take this statement with a grain of salt. Despite their supposed best efforts, the company has a storied history when it comes to privacy issues. The company gets into a lot of trouble for it. Just look at the Wikipedia page on the topic; it’s huge.

Hopefully, this is all overblown and the tech giant doesn’t launch a digital vacuum cleaner sucking up everything.

If you're looking for ways to start protecting your data, check out TechRadar's list of the best ad blockers for 2023. 

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Android’s answer to AirDrop is finally coming to your Windows PC
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Google’s answer to Apple’s AirDrop just got a big upgrade with the launch of its Nearby Share for Windows PC app beta.

Just like how you use AirDrop, Nearby Share lets you quickly and easily share files between nearby Android devices. This feature tends to be quicker than sending files via an email or Google Drive link, and is simpler than trying to transfer them over a typical Bluetooth connection. 

Nearby Share just got a lot better, however, as it now lets you do more than just ping files between the best Android phones, tablets, and best Chromebooks – you can now send files to your Windows PC, too. The introduction of the Nearby Share for Windows beta gives the feature a serious boost over AirDrop, as Apple’s feature is locked to its ecosystem of iPhones, iPads, and Macs.

Best of all, you can join the beta right now and start sharing your phone files via the new Nearby Share for Windows app in no time.

A phone sending a file to a PC, then sending that file to another phone

(Image credit: Google)

How to download Nearby Share for Windows 

Unlike other recent Google betas – like the Google Bard beta – where you have to sign up and wait to be given access, you can get started with Nearby Share for Windows right now if you want.

You’ll first want to head to Google’s official page, and there you should see a “Get started” button near the top. Click and you’ll download the installation file for the Nearby Share PC tool – open it to begin the installation process.

Once the installation is complete, you should see a window pop up that asks you to sign in to Google and set your Nearby Share preferences. Once you’ve done this, you’ll be ready to share files using Nerby Share with your computer; if you ever need to tweak your settings, you can click the gear icon in the Nearby Share Windows app to change settings like your PC’s name, where files get sent to and its visibility to other devices.

There are a few limitations to what PCs can support Nearby Share – it’ll need to be running Windows 10 or later and it’ll need to support Bluetooth.

Elsewhere, Google isn't only gaining on Apple in the file-sharing world, its Google AirTags could take over the world, too. 

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Today’s Wordle answer #275 (with hints) Monday March 21
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It's the start of a new week and how better to get a handle on it than slipping into the old familiar waters of Wordle? After last week's maelstrom of challenging solutions, Wordle #275 feels surprisingly straightforward – almost kind in comparison.

Though, should we trust this someone softer Wordle solution, or is it just the New York Times lulling us into a false sense of security? Time will tell.

Don't be hard on yourself if today's puzzle has left you stumped so far, it's a Monday, after all. Not only that, but after the challenges of MOVIE and CATER it's no wonder you might be suspicious of this solution.

Read on for some full hints and insight to tackle puzzle #275. 

Wordle March 21 hint

First up, the riddle:

Saying it aloud will add confusion,

Homonyms are key to this solution.

Not good enough? How about these then?

  1. There are multiple vowels today
  2. It’s a very common word
  3. It takes the form CONSONANT, CONSONANT, VOWEL, VOWEL, CONSONANT.

Today’s Wordle answer #275

If you went vowel heavy with your starting word then you'll likely have picked up quite a few letters, though they may have needed a shuffle around. Hopefully your streak wasn't endangered but, don't worry, if you're down to the wire – don't through your phone to ground, sweep your laptop off the table, or snap your Nintendo DS loaded up with a homebrew browser in half: the Wordle answer for today is THEIR.

Wordle answer #275

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today’s Wordle alternative

While you might have completed the original Wordle, the Wordle Classic, full fat Wordle, that doesn't mean your Wordling day has to be done. No, there are plenty of Wordle alternatives out there.

If you need another dose of Wordle in your life read on…

Wordle Unlimited

TechRadar winning a Wordle Unlimited game

(Image credit: Wordle Unlimited)

Beware, once you turn this tap, you'll never be able to stop the flow of Wordle. Wordle Unlimited is an unofficial spin-off of Wordle that has no limit to the number of times you can play in a day. Not only that, it has social features that let you craft Wordle puzzles for your friends. Here's how to use and play Wordle Unlimited.

The custom Wordle is the real highlight of the game, giving you a versatile tool for trolling your friends. Not that we'd encourage that sort of behavior…

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Today’s Wordle answer #275 (with hints) Monday March 21
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It's the start of a new week and how better to get a handle on it than slipping into the old familiar waters of Wordle? After last week's maelstrom of challenging solutions, Wordle #275 feels surprisingly straightforward – almost kind in comparison.

Though, should we trust this someone softer Wordle solution, or is it just the New York Times lulling us into a false sense of security? Time will tell.

Don't be hard on yourself if today's puzzle has left you stumped so far, it's a Monday, after all. Not only that, but after the challenges of MOVIE and CATER it's no wonder you might be suspicious of this solution.

Read on for some full hints and insight to tackle puzzle #275. 

Wordle March 21 hint

First up, the riddle:

Saying it aloud will add confusion,

Homonyms are key to this solution.

Not good enough? How about these then?

  1. There are multiple vowels today
  2. It’s a very common word
  3. It takes the form CONSONANT, CONSONANT, VOWEL, VOWEL, CONSONANT.

Today’s Wordle answer #275

If you went vowel heavy with your starting word then you'll likely have picked up quite a few letters, though they may have needed a shuffle around. Hopefully your streak wasn't endangered but, don't worry, if you're down to the wire – don't through your phone to ground, sweep your laptop off the table, or snap your Nintendo DS loaded up with a homebrew browser in half: the Wordle answer for today is THEIR.

Wordle answer #275

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today’s Wordle alternative

While you might have completed the original Wordle, the Wordle Classic, full fat Wordle, that doesn't mean your Wordling day has to be done. No, there are plenty of Wordle alternatives out there.

If you need another dose of Wordle in your life read on…

Wordle Unlimited

TechRadar winning a Wordle Unlimited game

(Image credit: Wordle Unlimited)

Beware, once you turn this tap, you'll never be able to stop the flow of Wordle. Wordle Unlimited is an unofficial spin-off of Wordle that has no limit to the number of times you can play in a day. Not only that, it has social features that let you craft Wordle puzzles for your friends. Here's how to use and play Wordle Unlimited.

The custom Wordle is the real highlight of the game, giving you a versatile tool for trolling your friends. Not that we'd encourage that sort of behavior…

TechRadar – All the latest technology news

Read More

Today’s Wordle answer #275 (with hints) Monday March 21
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It's the start of a new week and how better to get a handle on it than slipping into the old familiar waters of Wordle? After last week's maelstrom of challenging solutions, Wordle #275 feels surprisingly straightforward – almost kind in comparison.

Though, should we trust this someone softer Wordle solution, or is it just the New York Times lulling us into a false sense of security? Time will tell.

Don't be hard on yourself if today's puzzle has left you stumped so far, it's a Monday, after all. Not only that, but after the challenges of MOVIE and CATER it's no wonder you might be suspicious of this solution.

Read on for some full hints and insight to tackle puzzle #275. 

Wordle March 21 hint

First up, the riddle:

Saying it aloud will add confusion,

Homonyms are key to this solution.

Not good enough? How about these then?

  1. There are multiple vowels today
  2. It’s a very common word
  3. It takes the form CONSONANT, CONSONANT, VOWEL, VOWEL, CONSONANT.

Today’s Wordle answer #275

If you went vowel heavy with your starting word then you'll likely have picked up quite a few letters, though they may have needed a shuffle around. Hopefully your streak wasn't endangered but, don't worry, if you're down to the wire – don't through your phone to ground, sweep your laptop off the table, or snap your Nintendo DS loaded up with a homebrew browser in half: the Wordle answer for today is THEIR.

Wordle answer #275

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today’s Wordle alternative

While you might have completed the original Wordle, the Wordle Classic, full fat Wordle, that doesn't mean your Wordling day has to be done. No, there are plenty of Wordle alternatives out there.

If you need another dose of Wordle in your life read on…

Wordle Unlimited

TechRadar winning a Wordle Unlimited game

(Image credit: Wordle Unlimited)

Beware, once you turn this tap, you'll never be able to stop the flow of Wordle. Wordle Unlimited is an unofficial spin-off of Wordle that has no limit to the number of times you can play in a day. Not only that, it has social features that let you craft Wordle puzzles for your friends. Here's how to use and play Wordle Unlimited.

The custom Wordle is the real highlight of the game, giving you a versatile tool for trolling your friends. Not that we'd encourage that sort of behavior…

TechRadar – All the latest technology news

Read More

Today’s Wordle answer #275 (with hints) Monday March 21
  • No Comments

It's the start of a new week and how better to get a handle on it than slipping into the old familiar waters of Wordle? After last week's maelstrom of challenging solutions, Wordle #275 feels surprisingly straightforward – almost kind in comparison.

Though, should we trust this someone softer Wordle solution, or is it just the New York Times lulling us into a false sense of security? Time will tell.

Don't be hard on yourself if today's puzzle has left you stumped so far, it's a Monday, after all. Not only that, but after the challenges of MOVIE and CATER it's no wonder you might be suspicious of this solution.

Read on for some full hints and insight to tackle puzzle #275. 

Wordle March 21 hint

First up, the riddle:

Saying it aloud will add confusion,

Homonyms are key to this solution.

Not good enough? How about these then?

  1. There are multiple vowels today
  2. It’s a very common word
  3. It takes the form CONSONANT, CONSONANT, VOWEL, VOWEL, CONSONANT.

Today’s Wordle answer #275

If you went vowel heavy with your starting word then you'll likely have picked up quite a few letters, though they may have needed a shuffle around. Hopefully your streak wasn't endangered but, don't worry, if you're down to the wire – don't through your phone to ground, sweep your laptop off the table, or snap your Nintendo DS loaded up with a homebrew browser in half: the Wordle answer for today is THEIR.

Wordle answer #275

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today’s Wordle alternative

While you might have completed the original Wordle, the Wordle Classic, full fat Wordle, that doesn't mean your Wordling day has to be done. No, there are plenty of Wordle alternatives out there.

If you need another dose of Wordle in your life read on…

Wordle Unlimited

TechRadar winning a Wordle Unlimited game

(Image credit: Wordle Unlimited)

Beware, once you turn this tap, you'll never be able to stop the flow of Wordle. Wordle Unlimited is an unofficial spin-off of Wordle that has no limit to the number of times you can play in a day. Not only that, it has social features that let you craft Wordle puzzles for your friends. Here's how to use and play Wordle Unlimited.

The custom Wordle is the real highlight of the game, giving you a versatile tool for trolling your friends. Not that we'd encourage that sort of behavior…

TechRadar – All the latest technology news

Read More

Today’s Wordle answer #273 (with hints) Sunday March 20
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Hello Wordle Sunday traveller – welcome to another day of gaming, and this time we're on #274. Where does the time go, eh?

After the debacle of yesterday's word – which stumped many, we're back with another tough one – it's not really fair this weekend, is it? Or maybe this is what Wordle is all about, offering something impossible to then be beaten. Or maybe it's too early on a Sunday to be thinking such thoughts and we should be making pancakes instead.

So, you can either take a look at the Wordle answer archive to see today's solution (do bookmark it) or read on for some full hints and insight to tackle puzzle #274. 

Wordle March 19 hint

First up, the riddle:

Rip it all up and start again,
Make sure you extend things now and then.

Not good enough? How about these then?

  1. There’s only one vowel today…
  2. … but it’s twice
  3. It takes the form CONSONANT, VOWEL, CONSONANT, VOWEL, CONSONANT.

Today’s Wordle answer #273

Look, we all know how easy it is to break the streak. You've got a lot on, and you're only on the second guess… before you know it, you've thrown your tea all down your front, the car won't start and you're on the sixth guess. You can't let this be the thing that breaks you. So, let's solve that: the Wordle answer for today is RENEW.

Today's wordle answer on white background

(Image credit: TechRadar / NY Times)

Today’s Wordle alternative

So you’ve done today’s Wordle. Well done. So each day we’re going to recommend one of the best Wordle alternatives so the joy train of daily puzzling isn’t over for you.

Today, lean back and get ready for a longer Wordle session…

Wordle Unlimited

TechRadar winning a Wordle Unlimited game

(Image credit: Wordle Unlimited)

Love a bit of Wordle but annoyed it only lasts one day? Well, why don't you try Wordle Unlimited, the hugely unofficial game where you can play as many times as you like – and we've got all you need to know on how to use and play Wordle Unlimted ready for you.

One of the real highlights of Wordle Unlimited is you can create custom Wordle games to send to your friends. A versatile tool for trolling, not that we'd encourage that sort of behavior.

TechRadar – All the latest technology news

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Today’s Wordle answer #273 (with hints) Sunday March 20
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Hello Wordle Sunday traveller – welcome to another day of gaming, and this time we're on #274. Where does the time go, eh?

After the debacle of yesterday's word – which stumped many, we're back with another tough one – it's not really fair this weekend, is it? Or maybe this is what Wordle is all about, offering something impossible to then be beaten. Or maybe it's too early on a Sunday to be thinking such thoughts and we should be making pancakes instead.

So, you can either take a look at the Wordle answer archive to see today's solution (do bookmark it) or read on for some full hints and insight to tackle puzzle #274. 

Wordle March 19 hint

First up, the riddle:

Rip it all up and start again,
Make sure you extend things now and then.

Not good enough? How about these then?

  1. There’s only one vowel today…
  2. … but it’s twice
  3. It takes the form CONSONANT, VOWEL, CONSONANT, VOWEL, CONSONANT.

Today’s Wordle answer #273

Look, we all know how easy it is to break the streak. You've got a lot on, and you're only on the second guess… before you know it, you've thrown your tea all down your front, the car won't start and you're on the sixth guess. You can't let this be the thing that breaks you. So, let's solve that: the Wordle answer for today is RENEW.

Today's wordle answer on white background

(Image credit: TechRadar / NY Times)

Today’s Wordle alternative

So you’ve done today’s Wordle. Well done. So each day we’re going to recommend one of the best Wordle alternatives so the joy train of daily puzzling isn’t over for you.

Today, lean back and get ready for a longer Wordle session…

Wordle Unlimited

TechRadar winning a Wordle Unlimited game

(Image credit: Wordle Unlimited)

Love a bit of Wordle but annoyed it only lasts one day? Well, why don't you try Wordle Unlimited, the hugely unofficial game where you can play as many times as you like – and we've got all you need to know on how to use and play Wordle Unlimted ready for you.

One of the real highlights of Wordle Unlimited is you can create custom Wordle games to send to your friends. A versatile tool for trolling, not that we'd encourage that sort of behavior.

TechRadar – All the latest technology news

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Today’s Wordle answer and hints #273 (March 19)
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Looking for some help with today’s Wordle answer, for puzzle #273? Of course you are – otherwise this is a weird article for you to have clicked on.

We’ve been bringing you the answers and insights for a while and you can check out our Wordle answers archive to see what’s been happening each day.

Other Wordle tips

– How to win at Wordle every day

– No, Wordle isn't getting harder

– Games like Wordle

But it’s all about today, and we’re here to – first – bring you a hint to help save the streak, then it‘s straight to the answer.

And if you can't be bothered with even having to look at the hint, the just jump to the answer and get on with the weekend. We’ve all got better things to do, right?

Today’s Wordle hint and riddle

Wordle answer with no correct letters

(Image credit: TechRadar)

We’re trialling this daily riddle format – is it working? Is it useful? Hard to say, but they’re fun to write… so do email in and let us know!

Today's Wordle riddle:

Give permission to achieve a goal, but be ready – this one starts with a vowel.

OK, ’goal’ and ‘vowel’ don’t technically rhyme. It’s assonance, which is a poetry word for ‘I can do what I want because poetry’. How about some hints to keep this party rolling?

  1. There are two vowels today
  2. It has a double letter
  3. It ends with a W

Does that help? No? OK, fine… you can have the answer. BUT, do check out our Wordle solver tools below to see if they can help you instead – a quick scroll will jump you past the answer.

Today’s Wordle Answer #273

Today’s Wordle answer on black background

(Image credit: TechRadar / NY Times)

The Wordle answer for today is: ALLOW.

It’s already looking like a tricky one to start the weekend – and we often see this when a vowel is placed at the start of a word. A double letter as well… we can see this one running and running.

Google Trends suggests that this is proving to be the case – the UK saw a HUGE spike in Wordle Answer at midnight, although the usual 7AM follow up wasn’t there:

Wordle trends on a white background

(Image credit: TechRadar / Google)

With nothing trending today in Wordle, we expect this article to be read by people stumped through the A at the front – and maybe the double letter.

Today’s Wordle alternative

So you’ve done today’s Wordle. Well done. So each day we’re going to recommend one of the best Wordle alternatives so the joy train of daily puzzling isn’t over for you.

Today, it’s time to get your calculator out…

Nerdle

The starting screen to a game of Nerdle

(Image credit: Future)

Such a different game to Wordle, but it gives your brain a different workout. Consider Wordle your long, steady state run and then Nerdle being the HIIT workout you (inexplicably) do next.

You're asked to enter a sum of 8 numbers or symbols long… and apart from knowing it has to have some numbers and an equals in there, that's all you get.

It's a great play – plus there's an 'Instant Nerdle' that shows you one line of semi-correct entries in the wrong place… and it's up to you to get it. Lovely.

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