What is Alexa Answers, how to join, and how does it work?

(Pocket-lint) - Congratulations, you tin beryllium the newest root for Alexa to usage erstwhile answering people's questions.

In 2019, Amazon announced Alexa Answers, with the extremity of helping Alexa reply hard questions that would've usually stumped the assistant. The thought is that Alexa's answers to specified stumpers tin travel from users similar yourself.

If you privation to participate, here's how.

• How to get started with Amazon Echo and Alexa
• What is Alexa and what tin Amazon Echo do?

What is Alexa Answers?

While Alexa tin reply galore questions radical are asking it each day, each erstwhile successful a portion it gets thrown a curveball. Niche oregon obscure questions - similar "Where was Barbara Bush buried?" oregon "Who wrote the people for Lord of the Rings?" oregon "What's cork made retired of?" oregon "Where bash bats spell successful the winter?" - are the types of requests Alexa typically has occupation fielding from Alexa users.

Now, with Alexa Answers, Amazon is allowing each Alexa users to assistance reply these questions done the Alexa Answers website. The thought is, erstwhile Alexa is asked these questions by idiosyncratic successful the future, the adjunct volition usage the crowd-sourced answers that users provide.

While investigating this diagnostic successful 2019, Amazon said it added implicit 100,000 responses.

How does Alexa Answers work?

There are assorted topics that you tin prime from to find questions already posed by different users. You tin taxable an answer, and going forward, Alexa volition usage the crowd-sourced answers it received - portion noting they were submitted by Amazon customers. If much than 1 reply is provided, Alexa volition rotate betwixt answers until it determines via feedback which is best.

How to join

1. Go to the Alexa Answers website and click Get started.
2. Browse questions that lucifer your involvement oregon expertise.
3. Write an reply for Alexa to stock with different users.
4. Alexa volition past stock your reply with a lawsuit who asks the aforesaid question.

Will Alexa Answers dispersed fake news?

It’s casual to spot the imaginable successful Alexa Answers; however, we excessively tin ideate Alexa turning into thing that spreads fake quality and can’t beryllium wholly trusted.

Amazon apt hopes to mitigate this by allowing users to gain points erstwhile Alexa uses their answers. You’ll besides beryllium capable to way however often Alexa uses your question and tin adjacent vie for who contributed the astir adjuvant responses. You volition besides beryllium capable to supply feedback and emblem answers you deem incorrect. There are adjacent prima ratings. For much accusation astir Alexa Answers' "Points, Feedback, Ratings, and Impact" system, spot this enactment page.

When volition Alexa Answers beryllium available?

It's present disposable for anyone to try!

Writing by Maggie Tillman. Originally published connected 6 December 2018.