Ford and Lincoln owners whose vehicles have hands-free access to Alexa can personalize their Alexa commands — they don’t have to keep using standard voice commands if they don’t want to. The automaker has been rolling out improved in-car control capabilities, and with them comes the option to teach Alexa commands that reflect their natural way of speaking. For example, they can program in “Alexa, I’m cold,” and then teach the voice assistant to respond by asking what action to take, such as “Can I turn the temperature up 5 degrees or turn off the AC. What should I do?”
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This feature, which leverages Alexa’s AI technology, adds to what is planned to be the broader rollout of the built-in Alexa hands-free experience in the automotive industry, with Ford and Lincoln offering free access to basic Alexa features for up to three years.
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Currently, models with access to the hands-free experience include the 2022 F-150, Bronco, Mustang Mach-E, Edge, Expedition, Nautilus and the newly introduced Navigator. And the highly anticipated 2022 F-150 Lightning will receive the capability at launch. Ford debuted the Alexa hands-free feature for its vehicles last year, marking the start of its six-year partnership with Amazon. As part of that partnership, it is providing customers with free access to Alexa for up to three years starting from the start date of their new vehicle’s warranty.
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Starting next week, attendees at the New York International Auto Show can visit the Ford booth to see the world’s first demonstrations of enhanced vehicle control in the soon-to-be-launched F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck. The Alexa experience will also be featured in the Ford Expedition during the public show days, April 15-24, 2022.
The demonstrations will show how customers driving Ford or Lincoln vehicles can use Alexa to listen to music, navigate, control smart home devices, add items to a shopping list and more. Alexa capabilities delivered through available SYNC 4 with enhanced voice technology provide the convenience of hands-free, voice-activated interactions – minimizing the need for drivers to look at or tap on the screen and helping them keep their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road. Customers can interact with their vehicles naturally and say things like: “Alexa, find the nearest gas station” or “Alexa, call Mom.”.
Information source: engadget.com
