Alexa

What is Alexa?

In 2014, Amazon introduced Alexa. The smart virtual assistant was initially intended for the Amazon Echo, which thus made its way into many households. While Alexa belongs to the voice assistants and thus only describes the software based on AI, the Amazon Echo Dot is the device or hardware that was originally needed to use the tool. This is already being sold in its third generation.

Meanwhile, Alexa is also used in Amazon Fire TV Sticks or as a smartphone app. Users control it with their voice and give it commands that are implemented with the help of algorithms at Amazon.

What can Amazon’s voice assistant do?

The intelligent voice assistant supports users in many ways. For example, Alexa can turn on lights or communicate with its users when a previously set activation word is called.

Alexa can play music via Spotify, Amazon Music, and other streaming services. This is then played back through speakers or Echo. With the help of multi-room music groups, customers can listen to the same music at the same time in multiple rooms that have the appropriate hardware. They do not need to own an Amazon Echo Studio speaker for each room. Customers can also connect Alexa to another Bluetooth speaker.

Above all, Alexa is popular for shopping via voice recognition. For this, users can call out to the assistant to buy batteries. The AI then searches Amazon for suitable offers and purchases them. The algorithm primarily relies on previous shopping behavior and preferentially acquires products that have been purchased before. If there are no relevant entries, items with the Amazon’s Choice Label are prioritized.

To use additional functions of their Alexa, users can download so-called skills. They can choose from over 15,000 offerings, ranging from alarm clocks to phone finders.

Additionally, users can connect smart home devices to Alexa to control the lights or adjust the temperature in the home via voice control. To integrate devices that cannot be controlled by smart assistants themselves into the smart home, Alexa can be connected to a socket that has the appropriate equipment.

How can Alexa be used?

Those who want to buy Alexa through the Amazon marketplace can do so, for example, by purchasing the Echo Dot or the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K. Voice assistants like Siri and Alexa themselves are free, but one must invest in the appropriate hardware to use them.

It is also possible to benefit from the advantages of voice control via an app. For easy operation, there is also an Alexa widget that can be used on the home screen.

For optimal use, a Prime account is advantageous, as some apps, like Amazon Music, can be used simultaneously. However, Alexa also works perfectly without Amazon Prime, allowing all skills to be downloaded and used.

How does the smart assistant work?

The software is essentially on standby. Users set an activation word, which can be “Alexa” or something entirely different, to prevent the smart assistant from activating during every advertisement for the AI. When activated, the data is first processed in the internal memory. After that, it is sent over the internet to the manufacturer, where algorithms attempt to execute the commands.

The current phase of data processing is represented by color codes.

The mute setting can turn off all seven microphones on the Amazon Echo, preventing any further recording until the mode is deactivated.

Siri, Alexa or Google?

The three major software companies Apple, Amazon, and Google offer their respective voice assistants. Apple’s offering, Siri, was released in 2011 and has been used in all of the provider’s products since the iPhone 4S.

In 2014, Amazon also recognized the potential and introduced Alexa.

In 2016, Google followed with its smart assistant, which has since been primarily used in Android-based devices.

Basically, all systems work the same: they are activated by direct address or by pressing a button and process commands based on AI at the respective producers.

Thus, the only difference lies in the data processing or the protection of data by the manufacturers.

Even when it comes to the question “Google Home or Alexa?”, there are hardly any differences. However, customer preferences can play a significant role here. For some, it is a great advantage that Alexa is directly connected to the Amazon marketplace. However, when purchasing smart home devices, it should be ensured that the respective voice control is supported. This can usually be easily found in most product descriptions.