Nuance unveils Nina for Amazon Alexa, the first intelligent enterprise virtual assistant that integrates with the popular internet-of-things (IoT) device to enable a new way for consumers to connect with their bank, airline, telco and retail brands, without needing to dial a phone number.
Nuance, the Burlington, Mass.-based speech recognition and natural language technology company with offices in Seattle, announced that Nina, introduced in 2012 as the first intelligent virtual assistant for customer service, has evolved into a powerful engagement platform that is ready to take on the internet of things.
“It’s truly amazing to think about the expanding channels through which consumers can engage with a brand for service,” Robert Weideman, executive vice president and general manager of Nuance’s enterprise division, said in a news release. “With Nina, we’re able to provide enterprises with the ability to design a VA once, then deploy it across the channels on which their customers choose to engage, securely and affordably. Nina for Amazon Alexa is the first example where Nina enables engagement through IoT devices, and the first example where two virtual assistants — Nuance Nina and Amazon Alexa — work together to deliver a superior customer experience.”
Nina will not show up as a separate Alexa skill, but rather enable individual customer skills. Nina would power the backend, such as help with travel arrangements through an airline.
Source: TechRepublic
