Virtual assistants can be quite handy. In fact, Alexa has proven to be an integral part of my smart home system. The fact that I can walk into my home and say “Alexa, turn on bedroom” and the lights in my bedroom will pop on is certainly convenient. But these virtual assistants also have a dark side, and we're not talking about them spying on you—sometimes they just don’t know when to shut up.
If you’ve ever used Alexa, then you’ve probably found yourself hearing “by the way, did you know…” at one point or another. This can be helpful if you’re asking the assistant a question or trying to figure out all the things you can do with Alexa. But usually it’s just an attempt to advertise some other service or “plugin” that Alexa offers, like playing rain sounds. I don’t want to hear commercials when I'm trying to turn off my lights and go to sleep, thank you.
These suggestions can be tricky to stop. Telling Alexa not to suggest things didn't do the trick for me. But if you know the magic words, there’s actually an easy way to stop Alexa from suggesting things.
To stop Alexa’s “by the way” suggestions, just say “Alexa, stop by the way suggestions” or “Alexa, stop by the way." It’s really that simple. I know because I tested it, and sure enough, Alexa responded by telling me it wouldn’t send any more suggestions. And it hasn’t. (You never know with these virtual assistants). Thanks for the tip, Reddit.
Looking to kit out your smart home with Amazon Alexa? Follow our guide on how to create the best Alexa set-up for your home. At time of writing, Amazon is also running deals on devices including the Echo Dot, Echo Pop, and Echo Show 8.
Here at Lifehacker we're big fans of keyboard shortcuts, whether it's for your operating system, your web browser, or any of your web apps. They help
It's difficult to avoid artificial intelligence at the moment—it's currently being touted as the next big revolution in tech—and Google is trying its
Giant tech companies like Apple are constantly adding new features to their platforms, but they can't do everything. To fill the gaps, we have third-p
I've used get-things-done (GTD) apps pretty much throughout my whole journalism career. These apps go a bit beyond your usual to-do list—if you've eve
Most services are easy to sign up for. You enter some info, punch in those credit card numbers, and shazam! A subscription is born. The reverse isn’t
If you’re thinking of deleting your X account, I wouldn’t blame you (I’d only ask what took you so long). Things are wild over there right now, and st
We are a dynamic information platform dedicated to delivering timely, relevant, and reliable content across a broad spectrum of topics. From the latest in technology and business to lifestyle, health, and global affairs, we aim to keep our readers informed and inspired.
Our editorial team is committed to maintaining high standards of accuracy and clarity, ensuring that every article provides value and context in an ever-changing world. We believe in the importance of accessible knowledge and strive to make complex topics understandable for everyone.
Whether you're here to stay updated on current events, explore thought-provoking features, or simply learn something new, our goal is to offer a trustworthy source of information that meets the needs of a diverse and curious audience.