What is Alexa?

Alexa is Amazon’s digital hands-free assistant, which can answer questions and control your smart home with simple voice commands.

Amazon’s Echo speakers are stylish and modern.

Alexa is Amazon’s digital hands-free assistant, which can answer questions, play your music, manage everyday tasks like setting alarms and checking the weather and traffic, read recipes step-by-step, and control your smart home with simple voice commands.

It works by voice activation in conjunction with Amazon’s Echo range of smart speakers - you simply speak your command aloud and Alexa will answer you with an appropriate response.

Amazon is working with a range of partners who have integrated their services with Alexa, such as Qantas, Westpac, NAB, AGL, REA Group, Airtasker and The Australian. Coastalwatch provides surf condition updates. Taste.com.au offers more than 50,000 recipes. Utility companies will let users quiz Alexa about their bills, and participating banks will provide account updates and balance information.

The Australian offers headline news and technology news with Alexa. Readers can select the news feeds in Alexa’s companion app as part of their flash briefing, and Alexa will read the top five news stories from The Australian’s homepage.

To get started, first go to the Apple App Store on on your mobile and download the Alexa app.

For Android users – jump to the Google Play store.

After opening the app, sign in with your Amazon account details and add The Australian’s flash briefing to your preferences.

To purchase your Echo speaker, visit amazon.com.au

Once you’re all set up, simply turn on your Echo and say “Alexa: what’s news?”

If you cannot access content from Australian providers, you may need to make some changes to your Amazon account settings. For more information visit amazon.com.au and go to Manage Your Content and Devices, or contact Amazon customer support here.