[sanitycheck]

Trust and accuracy is involved in the first and last of your examples - I'd end up having to check that the TP was actually added to the list, and that the timer had actually begun and was set to 10 mins.

Shuffling music, turning lights on, yes fine - because confirmation that the right thing has happened is instant and effortless. Anything else, I'll use a button or a screen.

[gw98]

Definitely agree with this. You get that confirmation with siri. I mostly use my watch for it and it will show me what it did on the screen without having to touch anything.

Confirmation is required when dealing with humans as well ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11fCIGcCa9c (this reminds me of Alexa)

[eternityforest]

Google is pretty good about that. It will say "Ok, your alarm is set for 7 hours and 40 minutes from now" and similar.

[muspimerol]

Not really - adding toilet paper to a shopping list is not clicking the "buy" button. And if you set up a timer you get quick confirmation that it has been set. If the timer is accidentally set for 100 mins it's easily corrected.

[ht_th]

I think the parent meant that you need to check if these commands are executed properly, otherwise you get into trouble later. For example, if the toilet paper isn't added to the shopping list, and you go shopping with this list the next day trusting it contains everything you need, you're not buying the toilet paper. Similarly, if the timer is accidentally set to 100, you only notice it after, say, 20 minutes when there's black smoke coming out of the oven.

[muspimerol]

I know, that's why I said you get a quick confirmation - "Ok, setting a timer for 10 minutes." is spoken back to you via the speaker.

[sanitycheck]

I just asked Alexa to set a timer for 2 mins, and you're right - she did then ponderously state that a timer for 2 mins was starting. Then she asked me if I'd like to hear tips about using timers? No. Then she told me I had two notifications, would I like to hear them? No.

Then I timed myself setting a timer on my phone, which took 9 seconds from pocket to running.

Adding to a shopping list isn't clicking the "buy" button, no - but if it's not on the list I won't buy it and then I will have no toilet paper. I would not need a list if I could simply remember everything.

[mikestew]

Then she asked me if I'd like to hear tips about using timers? No. Then she told me I had two notifications, would I like to hear them? No.

Are you saying this for comedic effect, or does the Alexa really do this? (I'd look it up myself, but good luck with that query...) To each their own, but I'd throw the device into the street if it pulled a stunt like that.

Then I timed myself setting a timer on my phone, which took 9 seconds from pocket to running.

To the Homepod or my Apple Watch: "hey, siri, tea timer for three minutes".

"Three minute tea timer, starting now."

I didn't think a product could screw that up. I would suppose it's a design decision between "assistant" and "servant that carries out my command without backtalk". There are times that I wish the Apple product were more "assistant" than "servant", but the Alexa product just sounds pushy.

[Crosseye_Jack]

I use Alexa for shopping lists, I get a “toilet paper added to your shopping list” confirmation after adding items to my list.

It’s not perfect though, for example when trying to add fruit and fibre cereal it will often add two items, “fruit” and “fibre”. But its close enough that when I get to the store and check the list I know what I intended to add to the list.