I’ve got about six Echo devices that I use basically as speakers, timers, grocery lists, weather radios, and some home control (lights and thermostats). I haven’t explored new features or asked it general questions in a while, but what I do use them for, I would miss.
It’s become second nature to say “Alexa, seven minute timer” while I’m cooking. Or “Alexa, add soy sauce to the shopping list” when I open the fridge and pull out an almost empty bottle.
Yup, exactly what we use it for and also to check the time. I always notice the lack of Alexa when I'm on vacation and have to get out of bed to turn on/off all the lights.
Yeah the issue is that you're never going to spend money through a voice interface, which is I think what they were hoping.
The other big issue is that it's not smart enough for any random request to work, so you just learn a few useful ones (timers, music, thermostat maybe...) and stick with those.
I think things might change when/if they hook up ChatGPT-level AI to them... but I still wouldn't spend money that way.
I have ordered dog treats through my Echo. “Alexa, reorder Charlie Bears” but you have to audibly enter a PIN, if I recall correctly. Eh, I might do it again, but it never occurs to me.
But you’re spot on about learning commands instead of it understanding randomly phrased requests.
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I’ve got about six Echo devices that I use basically as speakers, timers, grocery lists, weather radios, and some home control (lights and thermostats). I haven’t explored new features or asked it general questions in a while, but what I do use them for, I would miss.
It’s become second nature to say “Alexa, seven minute timer” while I’m cooking. Or “Alexa, add soy sauce to the shopping list” when I open the fridge and pull out an almost empty bottle.
Yup, exactly what we use it for and also to check the time. I always notice the lack of Alexa when I'm on vacation and have to get out of bed to turn on/off all the lights.
Yeah the issue is that you're never going to spend money through a voice interface, which is I think what they were hoping.
The other big issue is that it's not smart enough for any random request to work, so you just learn a few useful ones (timers, music, thermostat maybe...) and stick with those.
I think things might change when/if they hook up ChatGPT-level AI to them... but I still wouldn't spend money that way.
I have ordered dog treats through my Echo. “Alexa, reorder Charlie Bears” but you have to audibly enter a PIN, if I recall correctly. Eh, I might do it again, but it never occurs to me.
But you’re spot on about learning commands instead of it understanding randomly phrased requests.