Amazon rolls out new ‘Adaptive Volume’ feature on Alexa so she speaks louder if background noise like the TV is detected

AMAZON has rolled out a new “adaptive volume” feature on its Alexa device so it will now speak louder if it detects background noise.

The feature now allows he voice assistant to speak louder so it can be heard over ambient noise such as the TV or office chatter.

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It is only currently available in the US, the online company said.

A test by the publication The Verge using an Echo Dot found its performance inconsistent.

Placed next to a PC with a spinning fan it found Alexa responded using a louder than usual voice at times but at other times it used its usual speaking volume.

The report though suggested Amazon could still be fine-tuning the feature before it rolls out the service to other areas.

It is not known, however, if the adaptive volume feature can also make the assistant respond in a quieter voice if no ambient noise is detected.

Alexa already has a “whisper mode” which can make it respond in a softer voice if commands are whispered to it.

The adaptive volume feature is off by default but can be activated by saying “Alexa, turn on adaptive volume”.

It can also be set up using the app:

• From the Alexa app, tap More.
• Next, tap Settings.
• Under Alexa Preferences, tap Voice Responses.
• There, you’ll see three toggles: Brief Mode, Whisper Mode and the new Adaptive Volume. Toggle Adaptive Volume to enable it.

Earlier this month Amazon was said to be planning to unveil its own signature Alexa-operated big screen TV sets. 

The project to offer Amazon-branded TVs come October has been in the works for two years but was delayed due to logistical bottlenecks.

The effort to bring Alexa-powered Amazon TVs to American living rooms tapped talent from Amazon Devices and Lab126, but Amazon refused to publicly comment on the project. 

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