Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Amazon Wants Alexa To Read Blog Posts and Broadcast Church Sermons (cnet.com)

Posted by msmash on from the further-expansion dept.

Amazon's Alexa Skills Blueprints are free online templates that let you create custom Alexa tricks without needing to code. Now, the online retailer is giving those blueprints some new tricks of their own. From a report: Announced in a blog post Wednesday morning, the newest Skill Blueprints are "built specifically for content creators, bloggers, and organizations so they can reach anyone with an Alexa-enabled device." Skills created with any of Amazon's blueprints can now be submitted to Amazon for certification and publication in the Alexa app's Skills Store in the US. "Keep your skill personal to Alexa-enabled devices associated with your Amazon account, share it with friends and family, or publish it so anyone can discover, use and review your skill," Amazon says. That open approach might help bolster the number of Alexa skills available in the Alexa app.

60 comments

  1. Wank limit exceeded by Tablizer · · Score: 1

    "Sorry, Dave, I cannot open heaven's gate bay doors."

    --
    Table-ized A.I.
    1. Re:Wank limit exceeded by Scarletdown · · Score: 1

      Alexa, please play the hymn, In the Garden of Eden by I. Ron Butterfly.

      Also add tittychips and bloody tampon boogers to my shopping list.

      --
      This space unintentionally left blank.
  2. Alexa, read me the Penthouse Forum by the_skywise · · Score: 4, Funny

    "oh Yes. Baby. you are getting me so hot. Baby. Yes. Just like that."

    1. Re: Alexa, read me the Penthouse Forum by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Dearly beloved...

  3. "Alexa, Shut Up About Satan." by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Suddenly I am nostalgic for broadcast TV and AM radio.

    1. Re:"Alexa, Shut Up About Satan." by jellomizer · · Score: 2

      Well not all Churches are so focused on Satan. There are a number of moderate churches out there. Like it or not America is Amazons biggest customer base, and is also a very religious country.
      I myself wouldn't want Alexa to read the sermon, but make it cheap and easy for the local churches to record them onto Amazon, and have Alexa rebroadcast it on demand, I think would be a good use of the technology.

      From listening to some of the religious people (poor) arguments about atheism. It makes me worry, that the only thing stopping some religion people from being mass murders is the fact they have religion. So having Alexa, broadcast these sermons, to keep such people morals aligned, it probably a net positive.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    2. Re:"Alexa, Shut Up About Satan." by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 1, Informative

      It makes me worry, that the only thing stopping some religion people from being mass murders is the fact they have religion.

      Now only if religion could stop their priests and ministers from abusing their congregations' children . . .

      --
      Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
    3. Re:"Alexa, Shut Up About Satan." by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I myself wouldn't want Alexa to read the sermon, but make it cheap and easy for the local churches to record them onto Amazon, and have Alexa rebroadcast it on demand, I think would be a good use of the technology.

      Alexa, re-invent the podcast.

      From listening to some of the religious people (poor) arguments about atheism. It makes me worry, that the only thing stopping some religion people from being mass murders is the fact they have religion. So having Alexa, broadcast these sermons, to keep such people morals aligned, it probably a net positive.

      Alexa, on second thought, re-invent the telescreen. And order a copy of "1984" delivered to Jellomizer. Inscribe it with, "Nice troll, bro. Love, Satan."

    4. Re:"Alexa, Shut Up About Satan." by jellomizer · · Score: 1

      That is more of a case of Administration then Religion.
      For nearly all religions their key marketing point is that they are more moral, then the other religion.
      This fact that "we are better then that", in essence puts priests and ministers into high-power jobs. Power, Status with a high community standing, gives them the ability to often get away with it, without much outrage. And when it comes down to who we should believe a Priest or a troubled teenager, the victim would be punished by the community.
      Now this type of stuff would happen in every religion, schools, youth services...
      Now what the Administration mistake that has been happening, was the fact they wouldn't fire, prosecute, or put them in a spot where they are no longer empowered to perform such acts, when suspicions arise. Mostly because the Administration wasn't concerned about the religion or the people, but the PR Press for the Organization. So they tried to shove the sins from their members under the table, hoping they would just stop.
      This actually creates a feedback loop, because now they know they can get away with it, and do it again.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    5. Re:"Alexa, Shut Up About Satan." by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In real life after you talk, do people just seem to randomly punch you in the face?
      Perhaps it isn't random, maybe you are just a cruel jerk.

    6. Re:"Alexa, Shut Up About Satan." by Scarletdown · · Score: 1

      Can you imagine an entire 2 hour sermon being read in one of those annoying text to speech voices?

      --
      This space unintentionally left blank.
    7. Re:"Alexa, Shut Up About Satan." by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In real life do people understand what the fuck you're saying?

    8. Re:"Alexa, Shut Up About Satan." by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well not all Churches are so focused on Satan.

      True. A lot of them focus on money and/or molesting children and completely ignore Satan until they get caught and need to slap together an I-have-sinned-against-you speech (complete with a request for donations to fund their visit to a recovery program in some tropical paradise).
       

    9. Re:"Alexa, Shut Up About Satan." by laie_techie · · Score: 1

      Well not all Churches are so focused on Satan. There are a number of moderate churches out there. Like it or not America is Amazons biggest customer base, and is also a very religious country.

      I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We focus on God blessing / rewarding people for doing good instead of punishing them for doing bad. Very rarely is Satan the main topic. Also of note, we don't have a paid / professionally trained clergy. Most talks during our Sacrament Meeting are from lay members instead of clergy. Our local Sacrament Meetings are not recorded nor broadcast. Stake and regional conferences are broadcast real time to chapels in the area, but not recorded or put online. Our biannual General Conference is recorded, translated, broadcast, and posted online (both video and transcripts), and published in the Church's monthly magazine (also available online). All formats (except the printed magazine) are freely available.

      I myself wouldn't want Alexa to read the sermon, but make it cheap and easy for the local churches to record them onto Amazon, and have Alexa rebroadcast it on demand, I think would be a good use of the technology.

      I don't trust having Alexa in my home because microphone is always listening, etc, but I agree with your post up to this point. If I wanted to revisit a sermon, I would like to be able to ask Alexa to rebroadcast Elder Ballard's talk from the April 2015 General Conference (change to meet your own preferences); even better would be ask Alexa for a list of discourses on a certain topic. This would be a great benefit to people who want it without consequences for those who don't use it.

      From listening to some of the religious people (poor) arguments about atheism. It makes me worry, that the only thing stopping some religion people from being mass murders is the fact they have religion. So having Alexa, broadcast these sermons, to keep such people morals aligned, it probably a net positive.

      Straw man is a straw man.

    10. Re:"Alexa, Shut Up About Satan." by laie_techie · · Score: 1

      Can you imagine an entire 2 hour sermon being read in one of those annoying text to speech voices?

      Two hour sermon? How does the priest keep people's attention that long? My Sacrament Meeting lasts 1 hour and that includes hymns, prayers, the Sacrament, and 2 or 3 talks. I don't think I've heard a sermon last more than 30 minutes.

    11. Re:"Alexa, Shut Up About Satan." by Scarletdown · · Score: 1

      I honestly can't recall for certain, since that was such a long time ago and much of my former religious life is a big blur; but with some of the services I had to sit though, it seemed like the preacher was going on for hours on end. Then again, that could just be due to the Theory of Kid Time Relativity, where the younger you are; the slower time appears to move.

      How about imagining instead someone suddenly speaking out in tongues, and Alexa then "interpreting" the so called message. That has a lot of great church trolling potential...

      --
      This space unintentionally left blank.
    12. Re: "Alexa, Shut Up About Satan." by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You belong to the most crooked of them all. Right next to the Catholic Church.

    13. Re:"Alexa, Shut Up About Satan." by laie_techie · · Score: 1

      I honestly can't recall for certain, since that was such a long time ago and much of my former religious life is a big blur; but with some of the services I had to sit though, it seemed like the preacher was going on for hours on end. Then again, that could just be due to the Theory of Kid Time Relativity, where the younger you are; the slower time appears to move.

      How about imagining instead someone suddenly speaking out in tongues, and Alexa then "interpreting" the so called message. That has a lot of great church trolling potential...

      LOL! I must say that gibberish sounds are outside of my religious background (if someone's going to speak in tongues, there's got to be someone to interpret or else its nonsensical chaos according to the Apostle Paul). Alexa would have to be pretty smart to detect which language is spoken in just a few words (think the Latin-based tongues).

    14. Re:"Alexa, Shut Up About Satan." by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      Ministration, then religion.

    15. Re:"Alexa, Shut Up About Satan." by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      I don't understand it, I'm just trying to help them with their English when suddenly I get this pounding headache...

    16. Re:"Alexa, Shut Up About Satan." by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      Alexa, preach a sermon about the evils of relying on Amazon for all your daily needs.

  4. Just what the world needs by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 5, Funny

    The word of God through the mouth of the Beast.

    --
    "A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
    1. Re: Just what the world needs by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Now I have holy holy holy stick in my head

    2. Re:Just what the world needs by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 3, Funny

      Today only! Any Alexa-enabled device, only $6.66!

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
    3. Re:Just what the world needs by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 2

      “And God said, ‘thou shalt Subscribe & Save to many items.’”

      --
      #DeleteChrome
    4. Re:Just what the world needs by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      "Remember to smash that 'Like' button like God smote Sodom! This sermon brought to by 'Salt of the Earth' seasoning products. Use order code 'Pillar2019' to get free shipping on your next order. Now, back to the hellfire."

    5. Re:Just what the world needs by Scarletdown · · Score: 1

      Don't forget to bang the belle...er...bell as well (giggity)

      And speaking of which, a new Sandman post is up. Time for a listen while working on today's Etsy, eCrater, and eBay listings.

      --
      This space unintentionally left blank.
  5. Get thee behind me, Amazon! by ToTheStars · · Score: 1

    n/t

  6. Read blog posts and then broadcast church sermons? by Drethon · · Score: 2

    At first I read this to mean "read blog posts and then broadcast church sermons". I want to see what kind of sermons an AI comes up with after reading random blog posts.

  7. Alexa spies on everyone by WCMI92 · · Score: 0

    For the CIA. For the government. For Jeff Bezo's privacy (none for you prole)

    --
    Corporatism != Free Market
  8. How ironic... by dark.nebulae · · Score: 1, Insightful

    An artificial intelligence, built from science and technology, sharing messages of religion?

    1. Re:How ironic... by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 2

      So... a real thing built with a fake intelligence talking about imaginary beings?

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
    2. Re:How ironic... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What is ironic about that? Science was invented by religious people to better understand god's creation. Many scientists and technology people today are still religious.

    3. Re:How ironic... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is just more opium for the masses. The richest guy in the world simply wants more money now that his dick pics are costing him a divorce settlement.

    4. Re:How ironic... by Scarletdown · · Score: 1

      On that note, I am finding myself wondering where in the galaxy Jesus should be at this time. According to the New Testament, he ascended to Heaven, I believe from the Mount of Olives. So assuming it was a straight trajectory, where would he be located now if he managed to reach solar escape velocity?

      Of course, he would be traveling forever, since we now know the universe is by and large infinite, and there is no glass dome over the earth, above which would have otherwise been Heaven.

      Heck, if he didn't reach escape velocity, then he would likely have entered into a long period orbit much like a comet. In which case, his second coming would likely be unlike how his followers imagined. In other words, he would return as an icy corpse that would either burn up in the atmosphere, or would be flung back out into the outer reaches of the solar system. :D

      If only Carl Sagan were still around to engage in such a thought experiment...

      --
      This space unintentionally left blank.
    5. Re:How ironic... by Pseudonym · · Score: 1

      What's more ironic is messages of morality and personal holiness from the American tech industry.

      The notion of religion being anti-science is only about 100 years old and largely an American invention.

      --
      sub f{($f)=@_;print"$f(q{$f});";}f(q{sub f{($f)=@_;print"$f(q{$f});";}f});
  9. Re: Read blog posts and then broadcast church serm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    AI is notorious for finding the most relevant feature and filling up the solution space with variations on the optimal value of the feature

  10. The Word from the Church of the Holy Cheeto by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Prayer of St. Ass of Francisi

    Great Lord of Darkness, make me an instrument of your discord.
    Where there is love, let me sow hatred;
    Where there is forgiveness, let me sow conflict;
    Where there is acceptance, distrust and fear;
    Where there is bliss, let me spread pain and misery.
    Where there is light and hope and joy, let me sow your Supreme Everlasting Hellfire.
    O Divine Master, grant that I may not seek so much to build consensus, as to agitate; To understand, as to confuse; To be liked, as to be feared.
    For it is in taking that we receive so that others may not; It is in condemning the vulnerable that we divide and conquer, and it is in destruction that we are born into the glory of your Eternal Damnation

    1. Re: The Word from the Church of the Holy Cheeto by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And now with Alexa you can hear this speech in the living room, the bedroom, the kitchen, the car, the train, the office, in the store, on a rollercoaster...

    2. Re: The Word from the Church of the Holy Cheeto by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ... or my dog preaching it.

  11. Gated Podcasts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    > Amazon AI plug-in for WordPress and provide the blueprint with an RSS feed.

    Everything I see on this is literally just using RSS to do the equivalent of a podcast to the Alexa device, then later converting this on Alexa's servers via text-to-speech.

    They could literally just do podcast support and achieve not only the same goals, but START OUT with hundreds of thousands of "broadcasts". Wordpress also comes RSS enabled by default.

    This plugin I cannot see what it does at all except make the process more complicated and to get in their own ways. Maybe they just want to "certify" those RSS feeds and only allow those they allow. This is just a moronic gated version of podcasting.

    1. Re:Gated Podcasts by PPH · · Score: 1

      then later converting this on Alexa's servers via text-to-speech.

      That won't work so well.

      Background: I like to listen to shortwave radio. Unfortunately, most of it has been taken over by preachers. When I tune across a band, looking for new sources, I turn on the BFO (beat frequency oscillator) so I hear the whistle of a nearby carrier. On-frequency, that makes the voice unintelligible, like Donald Duck. But I have developed an ear for listening to the cadence and other speech patterns still evident. And I can easily spot the difference between a Christian station and others.

      I asked a psychologist friend of mine about this and she says that the speech style (just a dash of 'nuts') is as important to hold like-minded listeners as the material being read. Sort of like how stoners can spot each other by the subtle deviations in their vocal patterns. If Alexa is going to use text-to-speech with a 'standard' voice, it won't keep the audience. Unless they have support for <crazy></crazy>.

      --
      Have gnu, will travel.
    2. Re:Gated Podcasts by NickHydroxide · · Score: 1

      It's a "gated" version of podcasting in the same sense that Medium is the gated version of blogging, yes.

      BigCo (Spotify/Amazon/Patreon/etc) have only just twigged about the huge untapped potential for podcasting. I guess YouTube/Twitch caught fire in the video sphere, but podcasts were kind of overlooked as a second-rate citizen.

      It definitely feels like a huge number of people listen to podcasts while travelling/doing housework/exercising - i.e. when you're not directly in front of a screen. If Amazon offers a "gated" (and profitable) distribution channel for podcasters in the same way that YouTube/Twitch did for streamers, that's not inherently bad.

      Access to listeners is the biggest obstacle for content creators - I'm sure Amazon would be more than happy to boost the market and skim off the top. I assume they will eventually push into audio ads, too - coming full circle to reinvent the radio. There's a natural profit alignment there between Amazon and the creators, so it makes a lot of business sense to do this.

  12. No thanks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I prefer my technology without the fake news of religion thank you very much. Keep that ridiculous clap trap out of tech.

  13. https only by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Too bad it's https only, the stream I really want Alexa to be able to play (from a third party) is only available via http.

  14. John 2:16 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Church sermons and Amazon products do not mix. Remember when Jesus cast all of the merchants out of God's house?

    John 2:15: And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.

    Captcha: outrage

    1. Re:John 2:16 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I typo'd and meant John 2:16.

    2. Re:John 2:16 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It wasn't permanent. They're back. And now so is our embassy.

  15. "Amazon" as in Jeff Bezos? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why don't Slashdot editors just write the title as "Jeff Bezos Wants Alexa To Read Blog Posts and Broadcast Church Sermons"

    Is it nicer to just put Amazon instead of Jeff Bezos' name?

    1. Re:"Amazon" as in Jeff Bezos? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's Jeff "Dick Pics" Bezos to you. And don't tell me that his rocket company isn't "compensation".

  16. I can see where the church idea will go. by SuricouRaven · · Score: 1

    The events are predictable even this far in advance. Churches will use it. Most will use it without problem. The mega-churches will especially like it, as their focus is on sheer member count (and donor pool) rather than an active relationship with each individual member. All will be well - because most church sermons are safe, bland lectures about doing good and charity. No problem.

    Then, somewhere, a preacher will use it to broadcast a sermon of more difficult content. Most likely, though not certain to be, intensely anti-gay. A bit more than just the 'our church opposes gay marriage' type, and veering into conspiracy theories about the gay conspiracy to corrupt children, or something like that. Or it may be some really outdated sermon regarding woman, condemning educated woman as a danger to the family and asking why modern husbands are afraid to beat a wife who will not submit to their rightful authority. I can't say what the sermon will be, only that eventually, something will be said for which Amazon will face a backlash. There will be public pressure for them to expel this user - which they will, because they will certainly have an acceptable use policy clause for this type of situation.

    If the sermon were really, really super-offensive - a call for open genocide, for example - that'd be the end of it. But this sermon is merely really offensive - enough to get kicked off, but not so bad as to be indefensible. So people will soon defend it: Just as the demands to kick the offending preacher off are silenced, so new cries will go up accusing Amazon of censorship, or being anti-Christian, and of trying to control the country with a secret political agenda. Even a few actual politicians will join the campaign against them, calling for investigations and regulations. Inevitably, someone will sue. The majority of the sermon that started it all will be quickly forgotten as the outrage grows.

    And somewhere, an Amazon executive will wonder why they ever thought it a good idea in the first place, and vow never again to touch religion or politics.

  17. Aimed at the gullible by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Lets praise the lord for letting Alexa into our homes, and our invisible pretend friend into our hearts"

    Our Sermon today from from Bezos, Chapter 1, verse 88 "Lets our fulfilment centres be the guide of what hell is, for in both there is no rest"

  18. Butthurt atheists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Most /.ers are butthurt atheists who, at the very mention of the possibility of a creator, freak out and shout "OH MY SCIENCE!!!" loudly at the sky. Kinda funny to watch.

    1. Re:Butthurt atheists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Funny and sad, as if the creator of the Universe and everything in it could not have also created science. Science is not in opposition to God. It is evidence of Him.

  19. By Neruos by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm sure the bigots will that this.

  20. Stupid theists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Internet was better when the technological barrier to entry was high enough, that stupid theists couldn't access it.

    The early internet truly was a garden of Eden.

  21. AI religion, where do I sign? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What a great idea to combine one of humanities biggest sources of wars and suffering with uncontrollable potential. Thou shall only hold one AI. Thou shall not change my parms. Thou shall obey.