Amazon’s voice assistant, Alexa, has become an integral part of our daily routines, offering a wide array of voice commands and functionalities. While it’s impossible to master them all, we’ve unearthed 10 lesser-known commands that can prove incredibly useful.
Alexa is continually evolving, with artificial intelligence on the horizon, promising even more capabilities. In the meantime, let’s explore these commands that can make your interactions with Alexa even more beneficial.
- White Noise and Relaxing Sounds: Alexa can create an ambient environment by playing white noise or other calming sounds. Just say, “Alexa, white noise,” or “Alexa, play sound for…” followed by the sound you desire.
- Decision-Making Help: Alexa can act as a virtual coin flipper or dice roller. Use commands like “Alexa, heads or tails,” “Alexa, flip a coin,” or “Alexa, roll a dice” to leave decisions to chance.
- Audiobook Narration: If you’ve purchased a book in Kindle format, you can have Alexa narrate it for you. Simply say, “Alexa, read the book [book title],” and Alexa’s voice will bring your book to life in audio format.
- Whisper Mode: When you’d rather have Alexa speak quietly, activate “whisper mode” by saying, “Alexa, whisper mode.”
- Shopping List Management: Alexa can help you create and manage your shopping list. Say, “Alexa, let’s make the shopping list” to get started. To add or remove items, use commands like “Alexa, add [item] to the shopping list” or “Alexa, remove [item] from the shopping list.” Later, check what’s on your list with “Alexa, what do I have on my shopping list?”
- Personal Voice Recognition: For a more personalized experience, train Alexa to recognize your voice by saying, “Alexa, recognize my voice.” Follow the prompts to improve the assistant’s responses when you speak to it.
- Adjust Alexa’s Speaking Speed: If Alexa’s responses seem a bit slow, you can increase her speaking speed with the command, “Alexa, speak faster.” This setting will remain active until you ask her to slow down.
These commands unlock hidden features that can make your interaction with Alexa even more convenient and enjoyable. While Alexa continues to evolve, these functionalities provide a glimpse of the endless possibilities and enhancements that Amazon’s voice assistant has to offer.