In umpteen sci-fi movies, we have seen people talking to a voice (remember J.A.R.V.I.S. in Iron Man?) Just a booming voice with a slight robotic slur. It is the computer network system with Artificial Intelligence; a system that controls the spaceship, command centre or whatever. To add humour, the voice also advises on personal matters. In 2014, Amazon launched a new product called Echo that took us closer to that world of AI with a voice. Initially, it was just a beta-gadget toy that was available on an invite-only basis.

Today, after a slew of upgrades and almost a continuous addition of functionalities, it has become a formidable product that has proved to be a stupendous success for Amazon.

Physically, it looks like a portable Bluetooth-enabled speaker-cylindrical with no screen, standing nine inches tall. And no, there are no touch buttons. You interact with Echo by talking to it. I’m sure everyone is pretty familiar with either Siri or 'OK Google’. Now think that voice-enabled system built into a WiFi-enabled speaker. It is always waiting for its wake word—Alexa (or ‘Echo’ or ‘Amazon’).
What can you do with it?

Since it is built like a speaker and it is a speaker, it can play music. Just say, “Alexa, play some Rihanna” or “Alexa, play dance music” or “Alex, play playlist Bollywood”. Echo also integrates with Audible and you can listen to audiobooks with simple commands such as “Alexa, play audiobook Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” or “Alexa, stop reading the book in 30 minutes”.

Another pretty basic thing that Alexa can tell you is about the weather. Also, if you set your home and work address, you can ask “Alexa, what’s my commute?” or “Alexa, how is traffic?”.

Echo can be a great help in the kitchen as well. Not only can you ask about recipes and questions such as “Alexa, how many cups are in a quart?” but can also ask it to set a timer for 10 minutes.

Echo has been gaining new functionality (learning new skills, if you please) with various other companies integrating their services with Alexa. These include Philips Hue’s connected lights so you can ask Alexa to dim the lights or turn off the lights. You can use it to add items to your grocery list. A host of home automation companies is getting their products to integrate with Echo. Even companies such as Samsung (which wants to integrate smart TVs and smart fridge with Echo), Ford car company, Domino’s Pizza, Uber have either already built Echo functionality or will soon get it.

Amazon Echo has a US-centric information and costs US$180.

So next time, you want to hear a joke, just say, “Alexa, tell me a joke”.