Amazon's Alexa could soon speak in a dead relative's voice, making some feel uneasy

Amazon Echo and Echo Plus devices behind illuminated Echo Button devices during an event by the company in Seattle in September 2017. (Elaine Thompson/AP)

Elaine Thompson / Elaine Thompson

Do you miss the sound of a dead relative’s voice?

Well fear not: Amazon unveiled a new feature in the works for its virtual assistant Alexa that can read aloud in a deceased loved one’s voice based on a short recording of the person.

“While AI can’t eliminate that pain of loss, it can definitely make their memories last,” said Rohit Prasad, senior vice president and head scientist for Alexa, on Wednesday at Amazon’s re:MARS conference in Las Vegas.