Amazon and Apple Struggle to Integrate Generative AI into Alexa and Siri
Tech giants Amazon and Apple face delays and engineering problems in integrating generative AI into their digital assistants, Alexa and Siri, respectively.

Elliot Kim
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025 is in full swing, and while tech powerhouses like Nvidia, Samsung, and Toyota are making headlines with their latest reveals, some of the most intriguing products on display are the weird, the wacky, and the downright eyebrow-raising.
Take, for instance, the Nékojita FuFu, a tiny robotic cat from Yukai Engineering that can be mounted to a mug or bowl and will blow air in human-like intervals to help cool off your coffee or soup. The company claims the product was born out of a team leader's desire for an easier way to cool down freshly cooked baby food, but we can't help but wonder if this is the solution to a problem nobody knew existed.
Or how about the electronic spoon from Kirin Holdings that makes your food taste saltier? The spoon uses a weak electric current to concentrate sodium ion molecules in your food, adding a stronger umami and salt flavor to low-sodium foods. Because, you know, adding more salt to your meal just isn't an option.
Handheld gaming consoles are great for gaming on the go, but Acer's latest product, the Nitro Blaze 11, is pushing the limits of what is considered portable. With a 10.95-inch display, it's not only the size of an 11-inch iPad Air but also weighs as much as two iPad Airs stacked on top of each other. You might need to get your wrist strength up before giving it a try!
Lenovo's concept for a laptop with a rollable screen has turned into a reality with the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable. The device's 14-inch OLED display can unfurl itself and expand into a 16.7-inch panel with the press of a button or gesture controls, effectively adding a lot more screen space without any other monitors or accessories.
Other notable mentions include Spicerr, an AI-powered spice dispenser that fashions itself as a sort of Keurig machine for spices; Birdfy's smart birdbath that uses AI to detect when birds are using it and takes a photo; and Meticulous' smart espresso machine that features 10 digital sensors and can make real-time adjustments like a barista, all for a whopping $1,350.
And then there's the wearable that mounts to your temple, Omi, which can answer your questions, summarize your conversations, create to-do lists, and help schedule meetings. The device is constantly listening and running your conversations through GPT-4, and it also can remember the context about a user to be more personalized. Because, you know, having a device attached to your temple isn't creepy at all.
Smart glasses are the buzziest AI form factor of late, and wearables startup Halliday is jumping on the hype with its pair of smart glasses that project a 3.5-inch round display right into your eyeballs. The glasses offer real-time language translation for 40 languages and can display phone notifications, a cheat sheet with notes, and navigational directions.
Xpeng Aero HT unveiled its "modular flying car," the Land Aircraft Carrier, which is part van, part eVTOL. It's essentially an electric minivan with a small folding eVTOL vehicle tucked in the back that can be rolled out and launched into flight. Because, you know, flying cars are definitely a thing now.
Swippitt wants to make sure your phone battery never runs out again with its toaster-shaped device that charges your phone in seconds. The charging hub works by quickly swapping out external battery packs that fit into a custom phone case, and aims to give 50-90% extra charge instantly. It'll cost you, though: it starts at $450 with a $120 add-on for the phone case.
LG's AeroCatTower is a stylish cat tower that doubles as an air purifier, monitoring your cat's weight and sleep, and even allowing you to change the flow of the purifier while your cat is perched on it so they aren't disturbed by the noise. Because, you know, cat owners need all the help they can get.
Razer showed off its concept for a gaming chair that can heat and cool your seat like a fancy car seat. The system features a self-regulating heater that's capable of reaching up to 86 degrees Fahrenheit, as well as a "bladeless fan system" that circulates cool air through the mesh backing so you can stay comfortable while you're grinding Fortnite.
And finally, there's the $1,500 iPad bundle that will post for you when you die, complete with an 11-inch iPad case, a smart ring, an app, and a self-destructing 11-inch iPad Pro. According to the company, the "death protections" include features that can erase your search history, Rickroll your loved ones for eternity, and send out one final social media post to your followers. Because, you know, planning for the afterlife is always a good idea.
It's clear that CES 2025 is all about pushing the boundaries of innovation and creativity, even if some of these products might be more novelty than necessity. But hey, who knows? Maybe one day we'll all be walking around with robotic cats on our shoulders and AI-powered spice dispensers in our kitchens. Stranger things have happened, right?
Tech giants Amazon and Apple face delays and engineering problems in integrating generative AI into their digital assistants, Alexa and Siri, respectively.
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