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Amazon is updating Alexa to allow it to automatically switch between more languages. The update comes after a series of small Alexa additions over the course of November, increasing functionality and making Alexa more useful.
Alexa first got the ability to automatically respond to requests in English and other languages in 2019. However, it was limited to only two languages at a time. That hasn’t changed, but now users can enable a few more languages in the Alexa app. Alexa can speak German, French, Canadian French, Japanese, Spanish, US Spanish, and Hindi, all combined with English. Additionally, users can switch languages without opening the app by saying “Alexa, speak Spanish” to set a new primary language or “Alexa, speak Spanish and English” to set a pair to switch between them.
Alexa has also acquired the ability to respond to what Amazon calls “latent targets.” This basically means that Alexa can address requests that are “hidden” within or naturally follow an original question. To borrow Amazon’s example, if you ask “How long does it take to steep the tea?” then Alexa can assume that the latent goal is to set a timer for tea, reply “Five minutes is a good place to start” and follow up with “Do you want me to set a timer for five minutes?”
In addition to these two major changes, Alexa has gained the ability to include Fire TV commands in Alexa routines. Then you can say “Alexa, I’m going to have a drink”, and Alexa will know to pause the show and turn on the kitchen lights. And to support Alexa’s growing growth in products and services, you can now also use the assistant in the Amazon Shopping app to find products and order status updates without hands.
These are just a few of the skill-oriented changes to Alexa that Amazon rolled out in November. Echo devices as a whole have also been updated. Echo Frames are now widely available, Echo Buds have new Alexa-enabled training skills, and Echo Shows now have access to Amazon’s Care Hub to monitor their loved ones.
