Electronics

[monicakm]

I only have one Alexa, the other 13 AIs are Google.  I enabled it (Alexa+) but haven't done anything with it.  I don't know how recent your devices have to be to accept the new upgrade.  Of course Gemini is already here but not fully integrated in home devices yet.  Google's AI will be availble for home devices on the 28th.

The other night, I spent about 10 minutes in conversation with Gemini.  Mind blown!  I purposely kept the conversation benign.  We talked about my dogs.  But trust me, I know Google knows all there is to know about me

[I am still oxox]

What do you mean by enabling?

[Winkk]

I tried Alexa+ but I preferred the original Alexa so I switched back.  I really don't use it that often.

[PA Mom-mom]

@monicakm  We had it for a few hours and hated it. I went to my phone app and disabled it. Here's why: It listened to what we said and tried to find out if we wanted to buy something. The voice was terrible. It seemed invasive. I think we're too old or too non-tech savvy, to make sure it doesn't manipulate us. Just remember, you can try it and go back to the basic Alexa if you want to.

[tiny 2]

Mine tried to join in a conversation I was having with a contractor. Both Alexas are now enjoying a time out in a closet.

[Goodie2shoes]

@monicakm, thanks for your question, I have been wondering whether or not to enable the new feature. After reading the responses I'm going to pass. I'm fine with Alexa giving me updates on my Amazon deliveries !  

[monicakm]

@PA Mom-mom 

That sounds terribly invasive.  It might be possible to turn off the setting that lets it do that.  I wouldn't like that.  I've told people from the beginning, if you are uneasy with the fact that Google/Alexa COULD hear everything, prompted or not, don't get one.  Amazon and Google say they don't hear anything until the wake word but Alexa has been busted and they both COULD hear without the wake/hot word.  As for the voice, I haven't listened to them yet but there are 8 different voices.  Google has had different voices all along.  I have one Alexa but really don't use it.  It reminds us to take out the trash (but so does Google) and asks us if we might need to stock up on some frequently ordered items plus let's us know about low prices and that an order has arrived.  I like its curated Christmas music more than Google's.  Other than that, it's black self (with the blue light) just sits on top of the black fridge (with blue lights) and looks pretty.  Google is the powerhouse AI, soon to be replaced with Gemini (that I've already been chatting with).  I love tech

[monicakm]

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@tiny 2 wrote:

Mine tried to join in a conversation I was having with a contractor. Both Alexas are now enjoying a time out in a closet.

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[monicakm]

@Goodie2shoes 

I'm going to give it a whirl.  Alexa is not my main AI anyway so unless I find a really useful reason to keep it on +, I won't.  

[781Florist]

I haven't heard of Alexa+ and it doesn't sound like anything 

I would want.  I have 3 Echos around my apartment all synched so that I can play my Amazon music through them (they sound wonderful, and I am FUSSY about my music!) and I often ask what the current temp is if I'm going out or what the forecast is.

I don't need it to make the bed or turn the lights out.

One of the cutest Christmas cards I saw in the past couple of years showed a frazzled looking person slumped in a chair with a bare tree and boxes all over the place.

The text was...

"Alexa, decorate the tree!"