Voice-First News Roundup (2/15/19)

It's Friday, which means that it’s time for our voice-first and related news weekly roundup.

February 8- 15, 2019

Amazon: Skill Blueprints, HQ2, and Routers

• 2/13/19: On Wednesday, Amazon announced that they're opening their Alexa Skill Blueprints to anyone who wants to create and publish voice command skills Alexa Blogs
• 2/14/19: Amazon has dropped plans to build HQ2 in New York City after facing backlash after they announced their decision. Amazon had selected Long Island City, Queens, and Northern Virginia as the dual homes for HQ2, both of which would’ve employed 25,000 workers. NPR
• 2/11/19: How Amazon is planning to reinvent the router with its latest acquisition (Tech Crunch)
  

Google: Assistant Actions

• 2/15/19: Google Assistant Actions on the raise, still lag behind Alexa Skills. voicebot.ai

Microsoft: Cortana

• 2/8/19: Microsoft patent could help third-party Cortana skills feel like native experiences (Windows Central)

Apple: Leaked HomePod 2 plans

• 2/15/19: Apple buys AI voice startup that helps companies build Alexa Skills and Google Assistant Actions (The Verge)
• 2/9/19: Apple HomePod 2 Leak Hints It Will Analyze Your Voice And Have Face ID (Forbes)

Voice-First: Voice Boom, Healthcare, and Branding

• 2/11/19:  According to a new forecast from the U.K.-based analysts at Juniper Research voice assistants in use to triple to 8 billion by 2023 (Tech Crunch)
• 2/11/19: NHS Study on Future of Healthcare Foresees Voice Assistants (voicebot.ai)
• 2/12/19: Mastercard CMO Raja Rajamannar On WFA Distinction And The Power Of A Sonic Brand (Forbes)