Most devices with Alexa allow users to activate the device using a wake-word (such as Alexa or Amazon) other devices (such as the Amazon mobile app on iOS or Android and Amazon Dash Wand) require the user to click a button to activate Alexa's listening mode, although, some phones also allow a user to say a command, such as 'Alexa' or 'Alexa wake'.Īs of November 2018, Amazon had more than 10,000 employees working on Alexa and related products. It uses automatic speech recognition, natural language processing, and other forms of weak AI to perform these tasks. Users are able to extend the Alexa capabilities by installing 'skills' (additional functionality developed by third-party vendors, in other settings more commonly called apps) such as weather programs and audio features. Alexa can also control several smart devices using itself as a home automation system.

It is capable of voice interaction, music playback, making to-do lists, setting alarms, streaming podcasts, playing audiobooks, and providing weather, traffic, sports, and other real-time information, such as news. It was first used in the Amazon Echo smart speaker and the Echo Dot, Echo Studio and Amazon Tap speakers developed by Amazon Lab126. Intelligent personal assistant, cloud-based voice serviceĪmazon Alexa, also known simply as Alexa, is a virtual assistant technology largely based on a Polish speech synthesiser named Ivona, bought by Amazon in 2013. The more you use Alexa the more she adapts to your voice vocabulary and personal preferences.brbrDISCOVER MOREbr Get more out of your Echo device through personalized feature recommendations from Alexabr Discover and enable recommended Alexa skillsbr Pick up where you left off directly from the home feed with lists shopping or recently played Music and BooksbrbrMANAGE YOUR DEVICESbr Set up your Alexaenabled devices control or check status of your compatible smart lights locks and thermostats at home or on the gobr Create routines to automate your smart home devicesbrbrMUSIC amp BOOKSbr Connect to music services like Amazon Music Pandora Spotify TuneIn and iHeartRadio.For the subsidiary company of Amazon, see Alexa Internet.įire OS 5.0 or later, iOS 11.0 or later Use the Amazon Alexa App to set up your Alexaenabled devices listen to music create shopping lists get news updates and much more.

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