Make a version of the amazon alexa

A neat idea. Here’s my personal take.

This already exists in rectangular version that requires no hardware purchase and no additional subscription for device internet: the ChatGPT app for your phone, with advanced voice.

A standalone device is essentially the same technology package as a phone, except you’ve requested a wake word local model to chew up the battery on an additional personal burden. To consume from the cloud, a SIM mobile connection, needing an additional device subscription on your plan, or availability of WiFi, such as hotspot sharing you must manually and temporarily turn on within your phone. You describe no UI surface to revisit a chat session, see shopping results or language products that need to be read, click through links that provide grounding - or to be served ads.

Then, OpenAI offers no “mom” services like other smart assistant home devices: no “play this song”. No “bedroom lights to green”. Being ready for “set a timer” on an AI capable of solving mathematical challenges means huge datacenter consumption that can’t be segregated by use-case.

To enter into this vertical, a company would have to compete with a permanent loss-leader, failing despite having something to sell you:

Ars Technica – 23 Jul 24

Alexa had “no profit timeline,” cost Amazon $25 billion in 4 years

WSJ report highlights vague metrics, internal struggles of Amazon Devices.

Or you have to be willing to scam. AI summary (from an advertising company):

Subject: The Rabbit R1 pocket AI device, which critics and tech investigators (such as YouTuber Coffeezilla) alleged was a “scam” or overhyped “grift” rather than true artificial intelligence.

Key aspects of the controversy include:

• The “Large Action Model” (LAM) Lie: Rabbit heavily marketed a proprietary “LAM” that supposedly learned how to navigate any app interface or website. Investigators revealed it was not a revolutionary new AI model, but rather an Android app using standard Large Language Models (like ChatGPT) combined with automated web-scripting tools (like Playwright) that simulated human clicks on pre-programmed websites.
• Just an Android App: When reverse-engineered, the device’s operating system was found to be little more than an Android Application Package (APK). Critics argued that the company basically put a customized launcher on an off-the-shelf mobile operating system.
• Hardcoded API Secrets: Security researchers uncovered catastrophic security flaws, including hardcoded API keys for services like Azure, Yelp, and 11 Labs directly in the codebase. This allowed unauthorized access to sensitive user data and backend servers.
• Founder’s Previous Projects: Investigators linked Rabbit founder Jesse Lyu to a controversial, failed cryptocurrency and NFT project called Gama, adding to consumer distrust regarding Rabbit’s promises.
• Class Action Lawsuits: Due to the device’s failure to deliver on promised capabilities and extremely limited functionality, legal firms like Migliaccio & Rathod launched investigations into the company for potential consumer class-action lawsuits..

So the most practical instantiation of your wishes is indeed a sit-at-home device. I think it would have to wait while OpenAI has more promising revenue opportunity in the core business they now refocus on with limited worldwide compute availability: Chat with a computer coder.