Amazon Alexa is the brand’s voice-activated virtual personal assistant, included with Amazon’s smart speakers, such as the Echo and Dot. There are many things Alexa can do already, but the future might have many other things in the works.
Amazon Alexa Capabilities
When people buy Amazon Alexa and start using it for the first time, they should know a few things that make the experience easier and more fun. For example, if an individual misses something Alexa says, he or she can state, “Alexa, can you say that again?”
Also, it’s a good idea for users to periodically check and make sure Alexa is up to date with the latest software. It’s possible to do so by asking, “Alexa, do you have any new features?”
People can set reminders with Amazon Alexa too and can do so by using natural language. A phrase such as “Alexa, remind me to pick up James from school at 2 p.m. today” does the trick.
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One of the most appealing things about Amazon Alexa and the corresponding Amazon speakers is how many capabilities they offer. Users can get help with scheduling, shopping, setting timers, getting questions answered and so much more. After learning some of the most helpful commands, people will see how much they can do just by speaking.
Amazon Alexa can also learn skills that cause the technology to work with third-party apps. The Alexa smartphone app allows browsing for a skill and enabling it, and users can also say, “Alexa, enable [name of skill].” This method can sometimes be difficult, though, because it requires knowing the exact skill name.
What’s Next for Alexa?
Alexa is associated with what’s arguably the most well-known brand of smart speakers, but there are competitors — including Apple with its HomePod speaker — aiming to gain traction in the marketplace. So, any future features Alexa has will likely be capabilities that’ll help her stay ahead of other brands.
However, Amazon is also looking at ways to utilize Alexa in ways most people wouldn’t expect. It recently showed off its Alexa-themed escape room. By doing so, the brand brought its product and technology to a concept that’s already popular around the world. People love the thrill of solving mysteries while trying to beat the clock.
In Amazon’s version, the escape room features numerous products that work with Alexa. Participants interact with them while finding clues and putting together the pieces of the puzzle. This strategy is a clever branding tactic on the mega-retailer’s part because it fits with the activity and simultaneously demonstrates what Alexa can do, which could ultimately make people want to buy the related products.
It also appears Amazon wants to position Alexa to conquer the smart home market. The company bought Ring, the business that allows people to see smartphone images from security cameras when the doorbell rings. The sale was reportedly for at least $1 billion and occurred only five years after the idea failed on “Shark Tank.”
Last year, Amazon used its Alexa Fund to invest in Ring. That financial body provides up to $100 million in venture capital for voice technologies. After that, the company created an Alexa skill allowing Ring owners to sync their products with the assistant. Who knows what’s ahead in that regard, but Amazon seems to have ideas in mind.
How Could Upcoming AI Developments Affect Alexa?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a hot topic for tech enthusiasts, but even people who don’t consider themselves very technologically inclined can’t help but feel fascinated. AI is familiar to readers of science-fiction novels, but now, the fascinating possibilities brought to life through the words of those books are moving from imagination to reality.
People are already speculating about what Alexa might do soon, and how AI could factor into the new capabilities. For example, although Alexa can answer questions, the conversations stop short of substantial exchanges of information. But, if AI becomes more advanced and the technology becomes part of Alexa, people might be able to ask Alexa what they should do to overcome some of life’s greatest challenges.
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There’s already an AI-powered chatbot called the Woebot that helps people dealing with mental health problems like anxiety and depression. Also, Alexa allows users to ask simple things like, “What’s the weather like in Hawaii?” Someday, people might come up with requests that require smarter ways of thinking, such as “What should I pack for my trip to Hawaii?” The answer to that query is slightly more in depth, but undoubtedly useful.
There are translation possibilities, too. Alexa can help people translate simple phrases. However, the technology can’t to listen to what a person says in a foreign language and translate it in real-time as a human translator could.
Google’s already making progress in that area though. It unveiled a pair of high-tech earbuds that pick up what a person says, analyze it and then speak the words back to the listener in another language. Everything happens nearly in real-time, or fast enough to hold a conversation, all with the help of AI.
Amazon Alexa: Good Made Great
Alexa’s already a very capable assistant, able to help people get more things done and stay entertained just by speaking. However, it’s obvious that voice-recognition technology is extremely promising. Amazon surely won’t let Alexa get left behind as new developments emerge, so users and potential purchasers can look forward to continual improvements.
