Amazon's Echo devices are getting a slick new feature to help protect your home — here's how it will work (AMZN)

pulse

September 21, 2018 6:16 PM

Amazon is rolling out features to Alexa that allows her to detect when someone might be breaking into your home, or if your home alarms are going off.

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Amazon is rolling out a new home security feature to its Echo devices, called Alexa Guard.
After you tell Alexa you're leaving the house, Alexa Guard turns on — and it listens for the sounds of someone breaking into the house, or smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
If Alexa Guard hears something suspicious, it will notify you via phone notification. You can also choose to allow Alexa to send a notification to your security provider, if you have one.
Alexa Guard can also use an algorithm to randomize the lighting in your home if you're away to mimic the presence of someone being home — assuming, of course, that you have smart lighting.

Amazon is taking steps to ensure Alexa can keep a watchful eye over your home while you're away.

The online shopping giant just announced its Alexa Guard service, which is intended to enhance home security systems. Once enabled, Amazon's Alexa voice assistant will help you watch over your home while you're away. Here's how it works.

When you're about to head out, say something along the lines of "Alexa, I'm leaving," and the virtual assistant will enable the Alexa Guard system. While you're gone, Alexa will listen for signs of burglary, like glass breaking. It will also listen for your home alarms, like carbon monoxide alarms and security systems.

If Alexa hears anything out of place, it will send a notification and a sound clip of what she heard to your phone. You can also allow Alexa to notify your security system provider, if you have one.

If you'll be out of the house for a while, Alexa can randomize the lighting in your home to make it appear that you're still there — provided you own smart lighting. Using Amazon's own algorithms, Alexa will try to mimic the patterns of someone living in the home.

Amazon has plans to integrate Alexa Guard with more existing smart security systems, but the features will initially be compatible with Amazon's own Ring home security products, as well as security systems from ADT security.

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