Digital Assistants

Digital assistants are AI-based tools that use natural language processing to perform tasks, such as answering questions and controlling devices. Examples include Siri, Alexa, Cortana, and Google Assistant, which work with a variety of devices. They learn from user interactions to provide personalized suggestions and can integrate with other apps and services. While convenient, digital assistants raise privacy and security concerns. Overall, they have revolutionized how we interact with technology, making it more natural and efficient.

Tech Kits are part of the walk-in service provided by Innovate Labs. There are three levels of difficulty meant for different users and their experience with the different technologies. Many of the Tech Kits build off each other as you progress.

Beginner

Interacting with Lab Alexa

Length: 30 Minutes

Description: Digital assistants, also called virtual assistants, are voice-activated software powered by artificial intelligence that can understand spoken commands and perform tasks such as making phone calls, playing music, answering questions, or controlling smart devices. Instead of manually opening apps, users simply speak to the assistant, which processes natural language and connects to cloud-based systems to deliver accurate actions or information. At Innovate Labs, students can explore this technology by interacting with Alexa, experiencing firsthand how emerging tools transform complex digital processes into simple, conversational interactions that blend human communication with computational power.

Intermediate

Creating your Own Conversation

Length: 45 Minutes

Description: Digital assistants are software systems that use artificial intelligence to understand human language and respond conversationally, combining natural language processing with machine learning to improve over time. They are commonly found in smartphones and smart speakers, helping with tasks like answering questions, managing schedules, or controlling devices. In this tech kit, you will explore how these systems work by using the Alexa developer console to build your own Alexa Skill. Through coding responses in Python and designing prompts, you will create and test a personalized conversation, gaining hands-on experience with the practical side of this emerging technology.

Advanced

Incorporating AI into your Digital Assistant

Length: 60 Minutes

Description: Digital assistants enhanced with artificial intelligence are software tools designed to understand human language and perform tasks such as answering questions, managing schedules, or controlling devices, becoming more accurate as they learn from interactions. They streamline communication and provide quick access to knowledge, making them useful in everyday and professional contexts. Complementing this, the Amazon Developer Console offers a platform for developers to create skills that work with Alexa-enabled devices, guiding users through the process of building and uploading a fact-sharing skill to an Amazon IoT device, which demonstrates how these technologies can be customized and extended for practical applications.