It’s not you. How to get Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant to understand you better
Voice assistants changed the way we interact with technology. Why set an alarm manually when Alexa can do it for you? Siri can type up your emails.
Want to get more out of your Amazon Echo? Tap or click here for new tricks such as using your Echo as a speakerphone to finding the right wine to pair with a particular dish. What about Siri? Tap or click here for my favorite Siri shortcuts.
That’s all well and good — until the third time in a row, your AI assistant is confused and you’re frustrated. If you’ve been having difficulty getting through to your voice assistant, here’s how to get Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant to understand you better.
1. Watch your tone
You’ve probably seen viral videos of people screaming at Alexa or Google Assistant when they don’t get through the first time. While it’s tempting to let out your frustration that way, yelling at any voice assistant makes it even less likely to understand you.
For optimal results, talk at a normal volume. Speak to Alexa, Google or Siri like you’re talking to a friend.
2. Don’t block the mic
You ask Siri a question, and you don’t get an answer. Surprise, your thumb is blocking the mic. If your voice assistant can’t hear you, make sure you’re not the problem.
With Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, you need proper clearance. Amazon suggests at least eight inches of space around your Echo device. That isn’t always possible, but a little breathing room helps it pick up your words more accurately.
3. Act natural
Are you one of those people who talk to a voice assistant robotically? I get it. You think since you’re talking to a robot, you should sound like one too. But today’s AI is designed to pick up on regular human speech.
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