Amazon introduces Alexa Custom Assistant for carmakers in India

The Alexa Custom Assistant is available globally, including India, starting today.

Alexa Custom Assistant (Amazon)

Amazon, earlier this month, announced the launch of a customisable smart assistant called Alexa Custom Assistant. Now, the company is bringing this customisable assistant to India and the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.

For those of you who aren't sure, Alexa Custom Assistant is a version of Amazon Alexa, as we know it, that can be modified as per the requirements of the customers of a specific brand. Amazon says that the Alexa Custom Assistant is built directly on Alexa technology. It coexists and cooperates with Alexa providing customers with the benefits of an intelligent assistant that is their product and services expert, while Alexa provides the familiar experiences they already know and love.

Amazon said that the Alexa Custom Assistant reduces the cost and complexity of building intelligent assistants into automobiles, consumer electronics, mobile applications, smart properties, video games, and a variety of other digital experiences.

Apart from announcing the launch of Alexa Custom Assistant, Amazon today announced the availability of Alexa Custom Assistant to automakers in India. The company said that global automaker Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) will be the first Alexa Custom Assistant customer and that it has already begun development of the FCA-branded smart assistant for integration in select vehicle models.

Explaining the features of the Alexa Custom Assistant Amazon said that it allows the brand's assistant and Alexa to cooperate to fulfil the customer's request. For example, if a customer asks Alexa to roll down a car window, or how to troubleshoot a device, the request will be routed to the brand's assistant. If a customer asks the brand's assistant to play an audiobook, the request will be routed to Alexa.

Amazon also said that Alexa's presence alongside the brand's assistant also provides customers access to tens of thousands of Alexa skills and integrations such as smart home, entertainment, trivia and games, shopping, food and drinks, mobility services, and many others.

Talking about the security, Amazon said that because the Alexa Custom Assistant is built from the ground up with privacy in mind and using Alexa technology, Amazon manages the data and applies the same rigorous privacy and security policies in place for Alexa.

The Alexa Custom Assistant is available globally, including India, starting today.