I’ve had Alexa, Amazon’s cloud-based voice service, in my house for the better part of a decade. I had the original rounded tower in my first post-grad apartment, and now the second-generation Echo Spot (7/10, WIRED Review) has a permanent place in my office as I cycle among different smart speakers while testing for my guide to the Best Smart Speakers.

For years, Alexa’s been a constant for controlling my many smart lights and allowing me to jam to my playlist of choice. There was always a lot Alexa could do if you had the patience to install the skills, invest in smart-home gear, and perfect the best way to