You'll soon be able to use Alexa to control your smart oven or microwave

[Polycount]

We've seen Alexa integration make its way to a number of smart devices already. Modern examples include connected cameras, lights, TVs, speakers and even thermostats but Amazon isn't stopping there. According to the online retail giant, the company will be introducing "cooking capabilities" to Alexa's Smart Home Skill API.

That means Alexa developers will now be able to integrate the smart assistant into their own connected microwaves and conventional ovens, though support for the latter won't be arriving for a while yet. This functionality will initially only be available to US-based developers but Amazon will be bringing the API to other parts of the world "soon."

According to Amazon, some developers have already begun to leverage Alexa into their products. Whirlpool has developed an Alexa skill for its line of connected microwaves, which will allow users to "configure, start and operate" their devices entirely hands-free. GE Appliances, Kenmore, LG and Samsung are also developing Alexa skills for their own respective lines of smart appliances.

To emphasize their commitment to ushering in their vision of the future of home appliances, Amazon's venture capital arm, Alexa Fund, has invested in June Life - the creators of the "world's only intelligent convection oven," the June Oven.

The connected oven boasts an impressive array of features but it's perhaps best known for its integrated HD cameras, which allow the oven to detect the type of food you're cooking and select the appropriate cooking time and temperature automatically.

"We're excited to take the next step in our work with Amazon through the Alexa Fund investment and to offer our customers even more engaging experiences with their June Ovens," said Matt Horn, CEO of June Life. "This next development in Smart Home Skill API support for ovens will enable our owners to give shorter, simpler commands to their June Ovens and receive updates on their food as it is cooking."

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https://www.techspot.com/news/72597-youll-soon-able-use-alexa-control-smart-oven.html

 

[Misagt]

Tech like this reduces a person to being a kid with mittens pinned to the jacket. There are far better things we should be spending our energy on then needing to tell an A.I to turn on your oven.

 

[BSim500]

Tech like this reduces a person to being a kid with mittens pinned to the jacket.

Not to mention is an obvious safety threat. "Hey how can we commit remote arson? I know, let's wait until they leave their house in the morning, then force a microwave / kettle, etc, on with no food / water inside continuously for 9.5hrs..."

I still LOL at how "life changing" the ovens with cameras inside are supposed to be. Can they still not magically see through aluminum foil and remotely poke a knife into something to feel how it's done or do we add two more robots and 2x more apps to do that spending 15s loading the app, connecting from 10ft away to "save" on a 3-5s walk...

 

[wiyosaya]

Tech like this reduces a person to being a kid with mittens pinned to the jacket.

Not to mention is an obvious safety threat. "Hey how can we commit remote arson? I know, let's wait until they leave their house in the morning, then force a microwave / kettle, etc, on with no food / water inside continuously for 9.5hrs..."

I still LOL at how "life changing" the ovens with cameras inside are supposed to be. Can they still not magically see through aluminum foil and remotely poke a knife into something to feel how it's done or do we add two more robots and 2x more apps to do that spending 15s loading the app, connecting from 10ft away to "save" on a 3-5s walk...

You bring up a point that I constantly think of when reading an article like this - security. These things might serve some purpose to some if they were paying any attention at all to security.

Well, I suppose that you could say that these things are doing something for humanity. Making the fictional humans on the space ship in Wall-E come to life.

 

[Catweazle]

So you're just going to leave food sitting in the oven all night spoiling so you can tell Alexa to heat it up in the morning? If you're too lazy to walk to your oven to turn it on maybe dying of food poisoning is the best outcome for you.