Trusted Reviews is supported by its audience. If you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Learn more.
What is Amazon Alexa? The digital assistant explained
In This Article
Amazon is one of the largest company’s in the world, with its tech sector being only one cog in its massive machine. But what is Amazon Alexa, and what can it do?
Amazon and its Alexa assistant will be familiar to many, especially anyone that’s looking at making their home smarter.
One of the most popular features of Amazon’s products is Amazon Alexa, which can be found on multiple products, including theAmazon Echo,Amazon Fire TV Cubeand theAmazon Echo Show. It also can be found on third-party products, making it even easier for people to create a smart ecosystem in their homes.
Keep reading to find out what Amazon Alexa is and how it can help you.
What is Amazon Alexa?
Amazon Alexa is a virtual assistant that is featured on various pieces of tech, ranging from Amazon-made products to third-party devices, such as smart bulbs, speakers and smart clocks.
Alexa is based on a Polish speech synthesiser originally named Ivona, but it was brought by Amazon back in 2013. It was initially released in November 2014.
Devices that feature Amazon Alexa will usually feature microphones that can pick up your voice, although some devices can be controlled via the Amazon Alexa app.
What Alexa can do will vary depending on what device it is featured in, but generally, it helps users to control their devices with their voice or app, making it easier to run your home.
For example, using Alexa on the Amazon Echo you can ask for the device to be muted or unmuted, for it to read out your calendar plans for the week, how the weather is and other basic inquiries. Some devices can be used to call people or check on aRing Video Doorbell, further making it a great way to control your home and all of your devices under one roof.
As time has gone on, Amazon has added more features to Alexa, with specific commands like “Alexa, help me wash my hands,” being introduced after the Covid-19 pandemic hit to help people time their handwashing for the recommended 20 seconds.
The list of what Alexa can do is very expansive, and since it sits in the cloud it is always expanding on the information it can offer, refining its responses to make asking questions a more successful and seamless experience for users.
Alexa-supported devices that have screens are also capable of displaying information, like the week’s weather forecast or a video recipe, making them ideal products to use throughout your home.
Multiple apps are supported by Alexa too, such as JustEat, Fitbit, Spotify, Philips Hue and Nest, among many others.
Sign up to Amazon Prime
Want to enjoy free next-day delivery and access to Prime Video? You can sign up to a month of Amazon Prime right now for no cost whatsoever.
Amazon Echo and Other Devices Using Alexa
All of the devices listed below are compatible with Alexa, so if you’re looking for a device to use with this virtual assistant, you have plenty of choices. These include:
Amazon Alexa Limitations
Alexa is a great tool that can be used in a variety of situations. However, it does have a couple of limitations. Here are some things to keep in mind when using Alexa:
You might like…
Gemma joined Trusted Reviews as a staff writer after graduating from Leeds Beckett University with a Journalism degree. She’s worked with national outlets, covering breaking news stories to reviews fo…
Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.
Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Why trust our journalism?
Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.
Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
