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Alexa will now let you order over a million items from Amazon with your voice

Published Jul 1st, 2016 4:17PM EDT
Amazon Alexa Echo Shopping Update

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Amazon kicked the home virtual assistant trend into overdrive a year ago when it launched the first Echo. Since then, Alexa—the voice service powering the device—has become increasingly intelligent as the company gives it new skills.

It’s latest skill is possibly its latest surprising, as Amazon has now given Alexa the ability to order over a million new products from Amazon, even if the customer has never ordered that product before.

READ MORE: A roundup of original iPhone reviews that got everything completely wrong

Before now, Amazon Echo owners had to have ordered a product from the online retailer at least once before in order for Alexa to be able to place an order. Starting today, customers will now be able to order hundreds of thousands of products for the first time with Alexa, as long as it’s a Prime-eligible item.

Let’s say you’re looking for a can opener and you aren’t really particular about which one you receive. Simply say, “Alexa, order a can opener,” and Alexa will proceed to suggest a product and give you a price. Say “yes” and the order will be on its way, without you ever having to open up a laptop or power on a tablet.

The ability to buy even more things on Amazon might not be the best reason to buy an Amazon Echo on Amazon, but if you were planning to pick one up anyway, you’re going to receive an even smarter assistant than you expected.

You can pick up the original Amazon Echo for $179.99, the Amazon Tap for $129.99, or the Echo Dot for $89.99 through Alexa Voice Shopping.

Jacob Siegal
Jacob Siegal Associate Editor

Jacob Siegal is Associate Editor at BGR, having joined the news team in 2013. He has over a decade of professional writing and editing experience, and helps to lead our technology and entertainment product launch and movie release coverage.