Amazon’s Alexa is getting the ability to respond to custom phrases, schedule actions by smart home appliances, and give you a rundown of the weather, traffic, or news. Routines first began to roll out to Echo device users a few days ago, an Amazon spokesperson told VentureBeat.
Customizable voice commands and routines can be made with the new Routines tab in the Alexa app for Android and iOS.At launch, Routines associated with a specific phrase or scheduled action are only able to interact with smart home appliances or deliver news, traffic, or weather updates.
In addition to making Alexa respond to customizable phrases, Routines can also be used to schedule actions to occur daily, weekly, or on weekends. This is the first time Alexa is able to take scheduled actions, an Amazon spokesperson told VentureBeat.
You create a new routine by picking a phrase that begins with Alexa, then you choose an action you want to happen anytime you say that phrase. The most obvious routines to establish are “Alexa, I’m home” or “Alexa, I’m heading out” but integrations with smart home devices like plugs, remote controls, locks, and lightbulbs from companies like Philips, August, TP Link, and Belkin. Routines that tap devices like Logitech Harmony Hub and its accompanying remote control will be able to turn on music or specific programming on a TV through Harmony activities, an Amazon spokesperson told VentureBeat.
Routines can be carried out through multiple devices like the Echo or Echo Show, as well as pre-existing groups of smart home devices configurable in the Alexa app.
With the exception of smart home integrations, at launch…
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