Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Lonely this Valentine’s Day? Alexa can help you feel better

 

Valentine’s Day doesn’t need to be lonely this year. You have Alexa, and even though Amazon’s virtual assistant isn’t a real person, there are a lot of ways Alexa can help you through this February 14. Here are some things to try if you find yourself feeling down.

Amazon Echo Dot with broken hearted robot
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Link up, even when you’re far apart

Seeing a friendly face is always a good way to boost your spirits. Even if you and your best friends, family member, or sweetheart are separated by miles or trapped at home with a cold, you can all still feel like you’re in the same room, chatting it up by using your video-enabled Alexa device to make video calls. Though you’ll get the best experience with an Echo Show, you and your loved one can use the Alexa app to make video calls, too. Just go to the app, tap on the person you want to contact and choose the video chatting option.

Recommended Videos

Use your imagination

If reading a trashy novel to give yourself vicariously the romance you need isn’t your thing, then maybe try a game. The Alexa skill MyCrush by Is It Love? is a kind of mashup between the Sims video game crossed with a Choose Your Own Adventure book combined with a romance novel. All played out in your imagination, though, with a little help from Alexa. Using the skill, you go on dates with imaginary people and choose how the romance progresses.

Listen to a story

If there’s nothing on TV and you’re sitting around bemoaning your love life, have Alexa tell you a story to occupy your night. The Story Stream skill has stories in many different genres to suit your mood, including paranormal, thrillers, horror, Creepypasta, sci-fi and comedy.

Do something for someone

Sometimes helping someone else can boost your spirits like nothing else. You can show a little love to someone in need this Valentine’s Day with the help of the Daily Kindness skill. It gives 50 different suggestions on how you can randomly help a person around you.

Share the love

Even if you don’t have a romantic love, it doesn’t mean you can’t share love this Valentine’s Day. The Share Worldwide skill is basically an audio message board. You can listen to the message the last person left and leave your own for others to hear. It’s a great way to spread kindness and uplifting messages between strangers anonymously. It’s a little connection that can make you, and others, feel good, no matter what day it is.

Another way to share love is by sending kind notes to others. The Hallmark Valentine’s Greeting Blueprint for Alexa allows you to create and send greetings to your loved ones and friends in just a few minutes. You can send audio clips that are pre-made or create your own.

Have a conversation

Alexa can also get your mind off your worries with some silly talk and there’s plenty of things to talk about. Here’s our list of weird things you can ask Alexa, the funniest things to ask Alexa and the best Alexa Easter eggs.

Alina Bradford
Alina Bradford has been a tech, lifestyle and science writer for more than 20 years. Her work is read by millions each month…
Amazon might be using Alexa to send you targeted ads
siri alexa feminist reboot amazon

It appears that Amazon might be using its speakers to send you targeted ads, according to a recent report published online. To collect the data required to send you personalized ads, Amazon has been sharing transcripts of your conversation with its Alexa smart assistant with third-party businesses.

This new report was produced by researchers from the University of Washington, the University of California - Davis, the University of California - Irvine, and Northeastern University. They published the information online and stated that Amazon and third parties share people's interactions with over 40 advertisers. That data informs Amazon's advertising partners about your interests and then influences ads you receive on your Alexa speakers and the web.

Read more
Alexa can now tell you when a package is delivered
Senior citizen using Alexa to stay connected

Amazon has always wanted to have Alexa become the end-all and be-all assistant. Thanks to a new update, it's one step closer. Alexa can now tell you if it sees a person or a package through one of your security cameras. Also, if you have an Echo Show or a Fire TV, Alexa can automatically pull up a live video feed of the subject.

Amazon recently allowed third-party companies to tap into this new feature by revealing a new API. As a result, companies such as Google, Ring, and Abode have already added person recognition to their video security doorbells. According to Amazon, all of Ring's video doorbells and cameras should be updated now, while Google's Nest Cam Indoor, Nest Cam Outdoor, Nest Cam Floodlight, and Nest Doorbell will receive the update soon. In addition, Abode's IOTA and Outdoor Camera will also receive the update.

Read more
Alexa launches Grow a Tree Skill for Earth Day
A worker replanting a tree outside.

April is Earth Month, and in honor of the celebration, Amazon is teaming up with the environmental charity One Tree Planted. Through this partnership, Amazon will donate money to the charity to help with its reforestation campaign. The partnership will culminate in $1 million dollars donated, 1 million trees planted, and additional money from Alexa users for the rest of 2022.

If you’re not familiar with the One Tree Planted organization, it is a charity that has planted over 40 million trees since 2014. Since trees are essential in creating clean air and water, as well as a healthy environment, One Tree Planted wants to make it easy for anyone to help plant more. The organization has also been an AmazonSmile partner organization that allows Amazon customers to quickly donate to the charity when shopping on Amazon.com.

Read more