Alexa gets a(nother) game changing new feature: memory! [updated]
I recently wrote that this was going to happen, although I was surprised when it showed up this morning!
Well, it happened when the Alexa app last updated, I’m sure…I’m running 2.2.2— on a Samsung Galaxy S7. It updated on May 2nd.
However, I’m not seeing any documentation on it at Google Play or within the app. It could be that the ability is out there, but they haven’t fully documented it yet…that has happened with Amazon before.
So, what’s the feature?
Memory.
Sure, you’ve been able to enter things into Alexa memory before…using a shopping list or to do list, for example.
This is much simpler than that.
You just…tell Alexa to remember something.
For example, I said, “Alexa, remember that Doc Savage’s first name is Clark.”
Then, later, I could say, “Alexa, what is Doc Savage’s first name?”
Alexa told me, and told me that I had asked Alexa to remember that.
I wanted to check the parsing, so I said, “Whose first name is Clark?”
No problem: the response was, “Doc Savage’s first name is Clark.”
I was curious what would happen if the same answer was true for two things. I told it to remember that Superman’s first name is Clark.
After that, when I asked whose name is Clark, it told me both of them…cool!
The next thing I did was give it contradictory facts…so I told Alexa that Superman’s first name was Wayne. When I asked what Superman’s first name was, it told me Clark and Wayne…impressive!
I did test: I could ask Alexa in the (free) Amazon shopping app, and it knew what I had asked our
Echo Show (at AmazonSmile: benefit a non-profit of your choice by shopping*)
to remember.
I can see many uses for this, including as a quiz. My guess is the most common use will be the equivalent of jotting something down on a piece of paper.
I’ve checked at the Amazon site as well, and can’t find anything on this yet. One big thing I haven’t discovered yet is how to get Alexa to forget something. 😉 I’ve asked several ways. I also couldn’t find what it was remembering in the Alexa app…I suspect the documentation will show up in the few days. [SEE UPDATE BELOW]
I’m assuming any information being remembered can be seen by anybody on the account…at least those with the credentials (username and password).
I also don’t know how secure this is, although I’m assuming as secure as anything else on your Amazon account.
If you test it out, I’d be curious about what you think! Feel free to tell me and my readers by commenting on this post.
Update: I got some responses from Amazon…good to know!
Hello Bufo,
I understand your concern regarding the New Feature “Remember This”. Glad to assist you.
A) Regarding your First Query. To make Alexa forget something that you told it to remember, you need to delete the information from the Alexa App.
To do so:
1. Go to the homepage in the Alexa app.
2. Find the card containing the information you want to delete.
3. Select “Delete.”
When you delete the card, Alexa no longer remembers the information.
——- Are there limitations as to how long the responses can be or how many there can be?
Currently there are no limitations or restrictions as how long the response can be or how many there can be.
3. Who sees the responses that are stored… Is it safe to put in, for example, a social security number?
Utterance ID:
You’ll be able to see the responses in the Alexa App. i.e who ever has the access to your Alexa app, they will be able to see the responses stored.
If you still have any other or related concerns, please feel free to write back to us, we will be happy to assist you.
I tested deleting a card (the spurious information about Superman’s first name being Wayne)…worked like a charm.
Oh, I also tried asking like Bizarro might: “What Superman name?” That worked, too. 🙂 Just, “Superman name” didn’t, though.
Another update: since it picks out individual words, you can categorize by mentioning the category. I’m preparing a charitable donation today. When it comes time to do the taxes, I’ve often had to dig a bit to find which organizations and what dates. I asked it to remember, “We made a donation to [organization name] for the taxes on [date].” When I said, “What about the taxes?” it told me my full statement…and would do so with multiple items.
Another good use for me: I’m watching an old movie, and there’s something in it that might spark an article on my The Measured Circle blog…but I probably won’t get to it for a while. I said, “Remember that [movie name] has [trivia] for The Measured Circle.” Then I asked, “What about The Measured Circle?”, and there was my writing prompt!
Truly game changing!
Another update: you can easily delete and edit your items! If you say, “Alexa, what did I ask you to remember?”, then go to the Alexa app on your phone, you’ll see a list. With each one, you can delete it (with the “x”) or edit it (with the “pencil”). I deliberately said a wrong fact. Then, I edited it in the app…it instantly knew the right answer.
So many possibilities! I’ve already used it to remember where the Mothers’ Day gifts are, for example. This is a true digital assistant, like Iron Man’s Jarvis. 😉
Join thousands of readers and try the free ILMK magazine at Flipboard!
All aboard The Measured Circle’s Geek Time Trip at The History Project!
* I am linking to the same thing at the regular Amazon site, and at AmazonSmile. When you shop at AmazonSmile, half a percent of your purchase price on eligible items goes to a non-profit you choose. It will feel just like shopping at Amazon: you’ll be using your same account. The one thing for you that is different is that you pick a non-profit the first time you go (which you can change whenever you want)…and the good feeling you’ll get. 
Shop ’til you help!
This post by Bufo Calvin originally appeared in the I Love My Kindle blog. To support this or other blogs/organizations, buy Amazon Gift Cards from a link on the site, then use those to buy your items. There will be no cost to you, and a benefit to them.
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