Alexa 'Answer Update' Feature Will Get Back to You Later

Amazon Alexa doesn't take all the answers. But now, the virtual banana tin can remember questions it can't answer, and get dorsum to you afterwards if information technology finds an appropriate response.

Every bit was first reported by Voicebot.ai, this new Alexa feature is called "Reply Update." Editor Bret Kinsella said he first encountered the feature on Mon when Alexa asked if he wanted to enable it.

"If you ask me a question and I don't know the answer but I find out subsequently, I'll notify you lot," Alexa explained, according to the report.

In a statement to PCMag, Amazon said it will be rolling out this feature to "all Alexa customers over the coming calendar week."

"The Alexa service is getting smarter every day, and Answer Updates is just another way we're continuing to expand Alexa'due south Knowledge Graph," Amazon said.

This is an optional feature that is not enabled by default. To enable it, say "Alexa, enable answer updates." Alexa may as well prompt you lot to plow it on after answering a question. To disable, say "Alexa, turn off reply updates."

"In one case Respond Updates is turned on, each time you ask Alexa a factual/informational question and she doesn't know the answer, she will become observe it and send you lot a notification on the Repeat device when she has it," Amazon explained. "This means the device's light ring will circulate with a green light and there volition be a chime."

Alexa might not be able to answer all your questions, but the virtual assistant can assistance you exercise something else: shop. Unfortunately for Amazon, nobody really uses that feature.

Amazon shopping channels

The Information on Monday reported that "only a pocket-size fraction of smart speaker owners use them to shop, and the few who do try it don't bother again." The site says just 2 percent of people with Alexa-enabled devices take used them to purchase something with their voice this yr. Meanwhile, marketplace research visitor eMarketer final year reported that just 1.3 percent of Amazon sales in the US came from Alexa as of February 2022.

About Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo is PCMag'due south good on fitness and smart home products. Teaching yoga for near 10 years has helped her in evaluating a range of connected health products including fitness trackers, heart rate monitors, rowers, smart scales, stationary bikes, strength grooming machines, treadmills, and more. Angela as well tests smart habitation devices from her ranch in Florida, including air purifiers, kitchen appliances, and robot vacuums, just to name a few.