Question - are you using Alexa?

[SANZC02]

Just curious if people have Alexa configured and how they are using it.

For some reason I never set it up, plan to test at some point just Haven’t got around to it.

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[VSG]

Super useful for a very narrow range of things. Would be a lot more useful if Rivian would expose more functionality to the Alexa skill.

 

[ChiefBushWookie]

Only use a few commands- open frunk/charge port, Amazon music, and basic weather inquiries. It all works really well for me with very few errors.

 

[VikingMD]

Calling up NPR news and I have an automation to turn on the cameras using GPS near my house.

 

[Webleyaz]

I try to use it like Google with mixed results. Mostly unsuccessful. I just need to learn it's capabilities.

 

[Sevn86]

Set it up during delivery and haven’t used it since. This was back in June.

 

[RidingRoadsAndTrails]

I used it for the first few months. I even printed out the list of commands so that I would be sure to be saying the commands correctly. I got frustrated with its unreliability that I quit using it altogether. I couldn't figure out why sometimes a command would work the first time, sometimes it would acknowledge as if it understood the command as was going to do the command but then nothing happens. If I repeated the command enough times, it would usually finally work, but at that point, it was more effort than just doing the thing manually.

With Amazon shuttering Alexa.com last year, I wonder if we'll just get a whole new virtual assistant in the future. "Hey RJ, open the hood" and it actually opens.

 

[COdogman]

Never tried it and don't plan to.

 

[W1SE]

So I did a thread just a few months ago and this helps as a comparison to capabilities now.

Alexa improving

I have had my truck longer than most (16 months) when I first got it it was as bad as voice prompts when they first became “a thing” in cars.

there is still a long way to go (voice to text would be huge) but it is no longer looking for specific commands. You also don’t have to use specific words (frunk Vs hood)

Some things I use it for:
-phone calls
-frunk operation
-getting directions (even giving an address works)
-looking up a business
-looking for a specific artist/song on spotify

 

[COdogman]

FWIW I believe Rivian's ultimate goal is to have their own "AI" helper in their vehicles that would be much more comprehensive than Alexa. Maybe I'll try it then...

 

[SANZC02]

I used it for the first few months. I even printed out the list of commands so that I would be sure to be saying the commands correctly. I got frustrated with its unreliability that I quit using it altogether. I couldn't figure out why sometimes a command would work the first time, sometimes it would acknowledge as if it understood the command as was going to do the command but then nothing happens. If I repeated the command enough times, it would usually finally work, but at that point, it was more effort than just doing the thing manually.

With Amazon shuttering Alexa.com last year, I wonder if we'll just get a whole new virtual assistant in the future. "Hey RJ, open the hood" and it actually opens.

Just for reference, Alexa voice assistant and Alexa.com are two different products. Shuttering Alexa.com has no impact on the Alexa voice assistant.

 

[ads75]

I brought mine home in November, set up Alexa yesterday. Maybe I will try it another year or so.

 

[DaveA]

Can’t imagine using Amazon Music without her. ?

 

[MrMusAddict]

I'll admit I'm somewhat an anomaly; I love & contribute to OpenStreetMap. As such I will navigate literally everywhere.

Alexa has made it really easy to do this. Just speaking "Alexa, navigate to ___" and 4 times out of 5, it's flawless. The other 1/5 times it typically doesn't know where I want to go. But I'm excited when that happens because it means I know what to add next time I'm on OpenStreetMap ?

 

[zefram47]

When I remember, I use it with the wheel-button press, no wake-word. But there are some things I wish it could do that it can't, like turning on the ventilated seats, turning on/off the lane keep assist, etc.

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