This is not feasible with software updates alone on the Echo Dot or Google Home Mini, as it will require better hardware unless you just want your device to constantly phone home everything.

I think they’re saying they changed to referring to Alexia in conversation to A or Her

I'm responding to "devices will be much [better] at figuring out when we're addressing them than the primitive idea of a wake-word". That kind of on-device context detection may not be feasible with the currently-shipping hardware.

The manufacturers want you to buy new hardware at least every year, so that's not a barrier to new features unless you refuse to upgrade.

I'm sure they could do that detection without local updates in the future (disable the output if it detect a wrong context).

This should actually be fairly easy even now, simple grammar analysis could discover whether the sentence is directed at Alexa or is simply about Alexa.

But of course its much easier to require "Hey"

You're assuming that these devices have anything to offer even if they worked.

Not an unreasonable assumption, considering their popularity and the fact that people DO use them.

they do! for me, anyway.

i bought an echo dot on a whim, since it's so cheap, assuming it'd be fun to play with, but not very useful.

to my surprise, it's really handy. setting timers, adding food to the shopping list, and playing music are all super-convenient with alexa. turning lights on and off with her is fun too, although i admit, it was already a fairly easy task to do using a conventional, physical switch. :-)

Considering their enduring popularity in mass-appeal science-fiction constructs (stories, movies etc), I'm pretty sure they do have "something to offer".