The weird way AI assistants get their names
Amazon has named its latest AI assistant Rufus. The name Rufus has an interesting history and background, originally being a sobriquet for those with red hair in Ancient Rome. The ruddy complexion of William II of England, also known as William Rufus, gave him the same nickname. Today, the name has a somewhat aristocratic connotation in the UK but is more commonly associated with dogs due to its onomatopoeic resemblance to barking.
Origin Stories of AI Names
Amazon's first voice-activated smart assistant was named Alexa, as a nod to the ancient Library of Alexandria. In contrast, Rufus, the latest AI assistant, was named after Amazon's first office dog. Google's AI assistant, originally named "Titan," was later changed to Gemini by the DeepMind team to reflect the collaboration between different teams. Apple's Siri, on the other hand, was named by co-founder Dag Kittlaus and means "beautiful woman who leads you to victory" in Norwegian.
The Tale of Rufus the Corgi
Rufus, a Welsh corgi, played a significant role in Amazon's early days. The dog accompanied his owners, Susan and Eric Benson, to the office and became a beloved part of the company culture. Rufus even appeared on Amazon's error page and contributed to the development of features on the website. His legacy continued even after his passing, with Amazon now having a dog-friendly workplace policy.
Legacy of Rufus
The Rufus Building in downtown Seattle, named after Amazon's first dog, is where the company's AI-powered shopping assistant was created. Despite Rufus's passing, his name lives on in Amazon's latest AI assistant, which has been launched in multiple countries to assist customers with product information.
The Future of Rufus
As of now, Rufus can respond to queries through text and images but does not have a voice like Alexa. The AI assistant has already answered millions of queries and is intended to help customers make informed purchasing decisions. While there is no confirmation of integration with Alexa, Rufus continues to be a valuable addition to Amazon's AI offerings.
