Lesson 679 of 1234
How AI Lives Inside Alexa, Siri, and Google Home
Smart speakers have AI ears that listen for your wake word.
Lesson map
What this lesson covers
Learning path
The main moves in order
- 1The big idea
- 2smart speakers
- 3wake word
- 4voice assistant
Concept cluster
Terms to connect while reading
Section 1
The big idea
Alexa, Siri, and Google Home all have AI inside. They sit quietly until they hear their special name (the 'wake word'). Then they zoom your voice to faraway computers to figure out what you want.
Some examples
- Alexa wakes up when it hears 'Alexa'.
- Siri wakes up for 'Hey Siri'.
- Google wakes up for 'Hey Google'.
- If they hear something close to their name, they sometimes wake by accident!
Try it!
With a grown-up, ask a smart speaker to set a 1-minute timer. Notice how it 'thinks' for a second before answering.
Key terms in this lesson
End-of-lesson quiz
Check what stuck
15 questions · Score saves to your progress.
Tutor
Curious about “How AI Lives Inside Alexa, Siri, and Google Home”?
Ask anything about this lesson. I’ll answer using just what you’re reading — short, friendly, grounded.
Progress saved locally in this browser. Sign in to sync across devices.
Related lessons
Keep going
Creators · 6 min
Voice-First AI: Talking to a Computer Like a Person
Learn how to use voice instead of typing — for searches, reminders, recipe questions, and short notes — on a phone or smart speaker.
Explorers · 5 min
Voice Helpers Like Alexa and Siri Are AI Too
When you talk to Alexa, Siri, or Google, you are using AI. Here is what they are good at — and what they get wrong.
Explorers · 40 min
AI in Video Games: Smart Bots and Helpful Hints
When a video game character moves on its own, that is often AI. When the game gives you a hint, AI might be helping. Here is what is going on.