Don't be surprised if Amazon's Alexa device asks you to join the Avengers Initiative.
According to IGN, Alexa will begin to mimic human voices starting later this year. Achieved through deep learning, this program will launch with Avengers star Samuel L. Jackson's voice. Because of new neural text-to-speech software, Alexa won't utilize lines pre-recorded by Jackson; the device will actually mimic the actor's voice.
For a limited time, Amazon's Samuel Jackson voice pack is on sale for $0.99. An explicit voice option is also available.
Jackson won't be the only celebrity to get the Alexa treatment. Although no other names were announced this time, Amazon confirmed more Alexa voice packs are on the way.
Further, Amazon is also introducing a multilingual mode intended for bilingual users and a "Frustration Detection" mode that will trigger an apology if the device recognizes a user's frustration after too many failed requests.
Jackson has 188 acting credits to his name at the time of writing. The 70-year-old actor has appeared in several cult classics, including Pulp Fiction and Unbreakable. His stories career includes appearances in Jurassic Park, Die Hard with a Vengeance, the Star Wars prequels and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.