Samsung announced its own Quick Commands for its AI, Bixby, in September with its announcement of the Galaxy Note 8, and Amazon has now decided to add something along the same lines to its Amazon Alexa app and Echo lineup.
Do you tire of saying three commands to perform three actions? Sure, many smart home advocates are already dabbling into this technology would love to see commands simplified (making commands smarter, some would say). Well, Amazon’s latest Amazon Alexa app update allows you to create routines that, at the drop of a word or phrase, move Alexa to perform multiple actions in one command.
Interested? Here’s how to use Alexa to perform multiple actions at once.
How to set up Amazon Alexa routines with Quick Commands
- First, update your Amazon Alexa Android or iOS app to the most recent version, Version 2.2.317.13.
- Next, open the Amazon Alexa app on your smartphone.
- While at “Home,” select the three line icon at the top left corner, then “Settings” at the option bar that appears on the left.
- Once in Settings, search for “Routines,” then tap on the white bar with an arrow on the right side.
- Once inside, you can create a routine. Press the light Blue “+” icon or the white “+” sign at the top right to get started.
- Decide to create a routine for when you say something (such as “Good Morning”) or add an action to an existing routine (such as “Play Weather”).
- Finally, press the toggle to the right to ensure that Amazon Alexa is active. The toggle is Blue when on, Black when off.
You can set up Amazon Alexa on Tap, Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, and Echo Plus. Connect your phone to your home internet network to ensure that Amazon Alexa performs at her best.
There are limitations to these new routines and quick commands: if you want a Story Time routine where the lights dim and your TV stops to keep your children focused, it is impossible. Amazon’s push into quick commands/routines are just the start of achieving the smart home dream and for now, Amazon’s implementation for its Echo lineup is a step in the right direction.
