Unlocking Smart Home Potential: A Comprehensive Guide to Using Alexa Plus

Oh, how far you’ve come, Alexa! The new Alexa Plus is here, making your smart home assistant even more conversational and smart. With eight new voices and a fresh approach, this is the biggest upgrade since Alexa first appeared in 2014.

Launched recently in New York City, Alexa Plus brings exciting new features powered by generative AI. I got to see some of these in action and even try them out for myself.

One of the most notable changes is how Alexa understands natural language. Now, you don’t need to remember exact commands. For example, asking Alexa to “bring the lights up and set to a warm glow” works just fine, without needing to specify the room or device names. It makes controlling your home a breeze.

In another demo, when I said, “Turn on the lamp in the sitting area,” Alexa figured out I meant the “Sofa lamp.” This means less hassle and more ease in managing smart devices with your voice.

I also tested Alexa’s new ability to follow multiple commands at once. I dimmed the lights and asked it to raise the temperature. Alexa promptly said, “I dimmed the lights and increased the temperature by two degrees. Is there anything else you need?” Then, when I asked it to “vacuum the floor,” it simply said, “Okay,” and activated the Roomba. Pretty cool!

I also loved the new voice-activated routine setup. When I mentioned having trouble waking up, Alexa created a “Good Morning” routine for me. It set an alarm and adjusted my room’s lights, making mornings easier.

This setup was straightforward since not many devices were connected. However, Alexa can handle more complex routines, thanks to its extensive knowledge of smart home APIs. This means you won’t have to waste time programming routines through an app anymore.

The new Echo Show interface is another highlight. Set to launch on the Echo Show 15 and 21 soon, it brings a modern look with larger screens for more customization. Scott Durham from Amazon mentioned it will also be available for the Show 8 and 10 in the future.

The updated UI includes bigger calendar views and smart home widgets, making navigation smoother. You can even send images, documents, and notes to your Alexa email, and it helps you manage tasks like setting reminders from lengthy emails.

Alexa’s smart home control UI now mirrors the functionality of the Echo Hub, allowing for easy touch controls for those who prefer not to use voice commands. The map view feature is also enhanced, providing a clear layout on larger screens.

A new feature lets Alexa Plus pull video summaries from Ring cameras. You can easily ask, “Did a package arrive?” or “Did someone let the dog out?” and get quick answers.

Cooking just got easier too! Following recipes can be hard with the Echo Show, but Alexa Plus simplifies the process. It takes ingredients from recipes and adds them to a shopping list. You can also add items naturally, and it can arrange to have them delivered, working with Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh.

Alexa can suggest recipes based on what you have at home and offer substitutions for missing ingredients. This hands-free support is a game changer in the kitchen! I’m particularly thrilled about the new timer feature that automatically sets timers for each step in a recipe.

Aaron Rubenson from Amazon revealed that Alexa’s enhanced language skills make it easier to work with kitchen gadgets. So, you can simply say, “Alexa, preheat the oven,” and it can handle the rest without needing specific commands.

I’ve been using Alexa for nearly a decade. Although helpful, it has always required me to learn specific phrases and was sometimes more frustrating than beneficial. If the new Alexa performs as well as it did during the demos, it could truly revolutionize home automation for many users.