Amazon's 'Alexa' is the Automotive Life Partner You've Apparently Been Missing

Amazon’s Echo is a voice-operated smart device for your residence that, despite being notably gimmicky, has become increasingly popular with geeky homeowners. You can ask it for the weather, to read you a book, request a certain song, buy things for you online, adjust the thermostat, dim the lights, or schedule your calendar. My father has one and, because the device represents itself through a pleasant-sounding female voice calling itself Alexa, my mother refers to it as “his second wife.”

Soon, Alexa and the associated Echo technology will be available on Ford, Volkswagen, Hyundai, and BMW branded automobiles. The new feature should offer a catalog of in-car commands and can be set-up to work in tandem with a home device to do things like flip on the the lights prior to pulling into the driveway. While this might not drastically enhance your quality of living, it will feel incredibly futuristic for about two weeks.

While the other automakers are introducing Alexa through application networks synced through a driver’s smartphone, Automotive News says VW plans to have the technology integrated into the car directly and won’t require a second device. That removes set-up headaches and offers additional functionality between the home and device, which could theoretically unlock car doors or remind you that you’ll need to get gas soon.

However, Ford claims smartphone users will see the same broad functionality when Alexa is implemented in its vehicles. Using the Amazon Echo or Dot at home, owners can make requests like “Alexa, ask my FordMobile to start my car,” or “Alexa, ask my FordMobile to check my fuel range.”

Using artificial intelligence, Amazon’s system is intended to become progressively familiar with users’ preferences, too. This means the car should learn the routes you like to take and use it to help better curate its navigation choices. Of course, the biggest benefit — outside of being able to show it off — is the added safety provided by not having to interact with fiddly touch-controls as often while driving.

“Volkswagen and Amazon share a common vision around voice as the future, it’s a safe and natural way for us to interact with the vehicle,” said John Scumniotales, general manager for Amazon Alexa Automotive.

As far as when the devices will start appearing in Volkswagen’s cars, the company hasn’t said and is referring to the technology as being “under development.” That said, it’s unlikely you’ll have to wait too long. Ford has stated that Alexa should start becoming available on some SYNC3-equipped vehicles this summer and Hyundai already has the technology available on its Blue Link connected cars.

[Image: Ford Motor Co.]