For those of you who have secretly wanted to talk to Mickey Mouse, good news!
Later this year, you'll be able to do it on your Amazon Alexa-enabled speaker at home. Disney and Amazon are bringing the "Hey Disney!" voice assistant to more users. Right now, it can only be used in Disney Resort hotel rooms, but it will soon be available to anyone with an Echo Dot.
# Alexa becomes a Disney character
This "Hey Disney!" command to Mickey and his friends uses Amazon's Alexa Custom Assistant (ACA, a system that allows you to customize Alexa's functions, voice, etc.). Amazon introduced it about two years ago, allowing businesses to connect their own branded assistants in addition to Amazon's signature voice Alexa. For those of you who have secretly wanted to talk to Mickey Mouse, good news!
Later this year, you'll be able to do it on your Amazon Alexa-enabled speaker at home. Disney and Amazon are bringing the "Hey Disney!" voice assistant to more users. Right now, it can only be used in Disney Resort hotel rooms, but it will soon be available to anyone with an Echo Dot.
# Alexa becomes a Disney character
This "Hey Disney!" command to Mickey and his friends uses Amazon's Alexa Custom Assistant (ACA, a system that allows you to customize Alexa's functions, voice, etc.). Amazon introduced it about two years ago, allowing businesses to connect their own branded assistants in addition to Amazon's signature voice Alexa.
# Can be used at some Disney Resorts
Disney has created a package called "Disney's Magical Companion" that is available in select rooms at the Polynesian Village Resort in Florida. It will also gradually be available at Disneyland and Disney World hotels.
If you access "Hey Disney" from the Echo Show at the Disney Resort, you can ask questions about the park and request services from the front desk.
In recent years, it is also compatible with Disney's wearable device "MagicBand+", which has been emphasized in the park experience. It seems that this wearable device lights up and informs you when you set an alarm using Disney Assistant.
> Now available at home
Alexa users will eventually be able to say "Hey Disney!" to Mickey with Alexa. If you already have a child profile on Amazon Kids, the Disney Assistant will automatically be enabled! (It seems to be paid, but the price is undecided).
> Over 20 voices available
Over 20 character voices from Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, and more are available in this voice assistant. Mickey Mouse, Pluto, Dory from Finding Nemo, and Olaf from Frozen. Request jokes, play games, and enjoy Disney music and sounds.
> We do not share personal information
Also, according to Amazon, no personal information is exchanged between the user and the device while using Disney commands at the hotel. "We designed this to be an anonymous experience, so when you speak to Alexa, Alexa doesn't know who you are," said Aaron Rubenson, his vice president of Amazon Alexa. said in a video call with Gizmodo. "You don't need to know."
# Alexa continues to evolve
Amazon is also announcing a new automotive version at CES 2023, the world's largest technology trade fair, held in Las Vegas, USA, earlier this month. Panasonic Automotive Systems Co., Ltd., which is operated by Panasonic, plans to realize simultaneous cooperation between Alexa and Siri in some vehicles. You can call Apple's Siri for iPhone commands and Amazon's Alexa for others. Cars equipped with it can tell whether you're giving commands to Siri or Alexa, like a "Hey Disney" assistant.
All of these concrete announcements demonstrate Amazon's commitment to "ambient intelligence" (Google calls it "ambient computing"). You can have the same experience in your room or in your car without having to touch the screen or smartphone directly.