You keep hearing words like “skill,” “routine,” and “wake word,” but no one explains them clearly. You ask a simple question and get hit with a bunch of tech lingo that only makes it worse. If you’ve ever felt left out when people talk about smart assistants, this is for you
Smart assistants are becoming part of daily life. They control lights, play music, remind us of tasks, and answer questions. But if you don’t know the basic terms, you’re always guessing what they do and how to use them. This guide will give you confidence so you can use your smart speaker without second-guessing yourself.
We’re going to take a slow walk through the language of smart assistants. You’ll understand what each word means, what it does, and how it affects your device. As you keep reading, you’ll begin to feel a real sense of control. The more you understand, the more you can do—easily.
Wake Word
The wake word is the trigger that tells your smart assistant to start listening. It’s like saying “Hey” to someone before asking a question. For example, when you say “Alexa” to an Amazon Echo or “Hey Google” to a Google Home, you’re activating the assistant.
Think of it as a “wake-up” call. Without saying the wake word, your device doesn’t react, which protects your privacy. Once you say the wake word, the assistant starts listening for your next command, which is then processed to carry out your request.
You can change the wake word depending on the device you’re using. Alexa can be set to respond to “Echo” or “Computer,” while Google Home responds to “Hey Google” or “Okay Google,” and Apple’s Siri listens for “Hey Siri.” The wake word ensures that your smart assistant doesn’t accidentally activate when you don’t need it to.
Voice Command
A voice command is the instruction you give to your smart assistant after it’s been activated by the wake word. These commands are simple and direct, designed to tell the assistant what you want it to do.
For example, after saying “Hey Google,” you can give a voice command like “play some jazz music,” or “set a timer for 10 minutes.” Your assistant listens and takes action based on what you’ve asked. The key to making these commands work effectively is clarity and simplicity. The clearer your command, the better the assistant understands.
Voice commands can vary in complexity, from simple requests like “turn off the lights” to more detailed ones like “play my workout playlist on Spotify.” You don’t have to be overly formal or use long sentences—just say what you want, and your assistant will do its best to carry it out.
Skill (Alexa) / Action (Google) / Shortcut (Siri)
These are the additional abilities your assistant can use to perform more complex tasks. Think of them as apps or small programs that extend your assistant’s functionality. Each platform calls them differently:
- Alexa uses “Skills.” These are external apps that can be enabled in the Alexa app. For example, you can add a skill for a specific music service, like Pandora, or even for games like trivia.
- Google calls them “Actions.” These are similar to skills but are mostly integrated with Google services and third-party apps.
- Siri uses “Shortcuts.” These let you set up personalized actions for Siri. For instance, you can create a shortcut that sends a message to a friend, turns on your favorite playlist, and sets your thermostat—all at once.
The beauty of these tools is that they allow your smart assistant to grow and evolve. If you want to add a new feature, you can simply download and activate the right skill, action, or shortcut. They make your assistant smarter and more helpful as they connect you with more services.
Routine
A routine is a pre-set series of actions that your smart assistant performs when you say a specific phrase. These are the ultimate time-savers because once set up, a routine can take care of several things at once.
For example, if you say “Good morning,” your Alexa, Google, or Siri might start a routine that turns on the lights, reads out the weather, and plays your favorite podcast. Instead of telling your assistant to do each of those things separately, you just activate the routine with one command.
Routines make your life easier by automating the little tasks that would otherwise take up time. You can customize routines for different times of day or specific activities, like setting one for when you get home, or when you go to bed. The more you create, the smarter your assistant gets.
Smart Home Device
A smart home device is any electronic device that connects to the internet and can be controlled by your smart assistant. These devices are designed to be smart, meaning they can receive commands via voice or apps to perform specific actions. Common examples include smart lights, locks, thermostats, cameras, and even fridges.
For example, a smart light can be turned on and off using your voice, or it can change colors based on your mood. A smart thermostat learns your temperature preferences and adjusts accordingly. Many of these devices work with your assistant, making them more useful.
Not all devices are compatible with every assistant, so it’s important to check whether your chosen smart home products will work with your smart assistant (Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri) before buying. These devices can usually be managed through the app, making your home easier to control and automate.
Compatible / Works With
When a device is compatible or works with a particular assistant, it means it can seamlessly connect and operate with that assistant. For example, you can say “Turn off the lights” and the assistant will control your smart bulbs if they are compatible with Alexa, Google, or Siri.
These terms simply indicate that a product will function with your chosen platform. It’s important to ensure compatibility before buying products. Check for labels like “Works with Alexa,” “Works with Google Assistant,” or “Works with Apple HomeKit” to know if a device will integrate with your system. This also impacts how easy it will be to set up and use the device with your assistant.
Smart Assistant App
The smart assistant app is the software you use to control your smart assistant and connected devices. It’s where you can adjust settings, add new devices, manage routines, and customize features.
For example, Alexa has the Alexa app, Google Assistant uses the Google Home app, and Siri connects with the Home app (for devices) and the Shortcuts app. These apps give you full control over your assistant and connected devices.
Inside these apps, you can set up voice profiles, enable skills/actions, change the wake word, and manage privacy settings. They also let you monitor the assistant’s activity, so you know what your assistant has heard and done.
Smart Speaker / Smart Display
A smart speaker is a device that allows you to interact with your assistant through voice. It has a built-in microphone and speaker, so it listens to your commands and responds aloud. Examples include the Amazon Echo, Google Nest, and Apple HomePod.
A smart display is essentially the same thing but includes a screen. You can use it to watch videos, see a weather forecast, follow recipe instructions, or even make video calls. The screen adds more functionality, allowing you to see the answers to your questions or follow along with interactive content.
Whether you choose a smart speaker or smart display depends on how much you want to interact with your assistant visually. Some prefer the audio-only experience, while others enjoy the extra visual features of a smart display.
Privacy Settings
Privacy settings allow you to control what your smart assistant records, listens to, and stores. Your assistant is always listening for its wake word, but you have the power to manage how much it hears and what it saves.
In the settings, you can delete past voice recordings, mute the microphone, and choose to disable certain features. For example, you can turn off certain types of data collection, or even mute the assistant when you don’t want it listening.
Being aware of privacy settings ensures that you maintain control over your personal information. It’s important to regularly check and update these settings to ensure your privacy is respected.
Cloud
The cloud is where your assistant stores data and processes your commands. Instead of storing everything on the device itself, the assistant sends your voice request to a remote server (the cloud), where it’s processed. The result is then sent back to your speaker.
For example, when you ask, “What’s the weather today?” the assistant sends your voice to the cloud, which processes the information, and then responds to you. The cloud is where all the “smart” processing happens, which is why your assistant can provide accurate, up-to-date answers quickly.
Firmware Update
Firmware updates are software updates that improve the function of your assistant. These updates can fix bugs, add new features, and enhance security. Your assistant will usually install these updates automatically, though some may require you to manually accept them through the app.
Firmware updates are important because they ensure your device stays secure and efficient. Without them, your assistant might become outdated or malfunction over time. Just make sure your device stays connected to Wi-Fi, and the update will usually install when needed.
Multi-Room Audio
Multi-room audio allows you to synchronize sound across multiple speakers in different rooms. Once set up, you can say, “Play music in the whole house,” and your assistant will turn on the same song in each room where you have a speaker.
This feature is perfect for when you want consistent audio throughout your home. You can even control volume in each room independently. For example, the kitchen speakers can play music loudly while the living room speakers can have a softer volume.
Drop-In (Alexa) / Broadcast (Google) / Intercom (Apple)
These are features that allow you to use your smart assistant as a voice intercom. You can speak from one device to another within your home.
- Alexa’s Drop-In allows you to make instant voice calls between Echo devices.
- Google’s Broadcast lets you send messages to all Google speakers at once.
- Apple’s Intercom sends voice messages across your HomePods.
These features make it easy to communicate with family members across different rooms without needing a phone.
Third-Party Integration
Third-party integration refers to how your smart assistant connects with other brands and services outside its own ecosystem. For example, you can link Spotify, Netflix, or a smart light system to your assistant.
When a product or service integrates with your assistant, it makes your assistant even more powerful. You can control third-party apps and devices with your voice, expanding the range of tasks your assistant can perform. You just need to enable the integration through your assistant’s app.
Voice Match / Voice ID
Voice Match or Voice ID helps your assistant recognize who’s speaking. If your family shares one device, each person can have their voice recognized, and the assistant will respond with personalized information, like their calendar or playlists.
By training the assistant to recognize your voice, it becomes smarter and more responsive to your needs. This ensures that every family member gets the right responses from the assistant without needing to ask for a generic result.
Hands-Free Calling
Hands-free calling allows you to make phone calls using just your voice, without needing to touch your phone. You can ask your assistant to call someone by name, and it will place the call through your smart speaker.
This feature is great when you’re busy or your phone is out of reach. It’s a simple way to stay connected without needing to press any buttons.
Smart Assistant Ecosystem
The smart assistant ecosystem is everything in your smart home that works together. It’s the combination of your assistant, smart devices, apps, skills, and third-party integrations all functioning in harmony.
When everything is connected and working together, your assistant becomes a powerful tool that can manage nearly every aspect of your home life. Whether it’s managing the temperature, controlling the lights, or setting up routines, the ecosystem makes everything easier.
Voice Feedback / Visual Feedback
Voice feedback is when your assistant responds verbally to your commands, like saying, “Sure, I’ll play your music now.” Visual feedback is when the assistant displays information on a screen.
For example, a smart display can show your weather forecast, while a smart speaker will only speak it. Both types of feedback have their place, but depending on the task, one might be more useful than the other.
