The voice of Amazon’s Alexa has become an omnipresent, almost divine voice in many homes around the UK during the last few years. She helps us resolve internal quandaries, answer life’s most pressing questions and even perform the odd miracle, like allowing us to turn the thermostat down with just our voices.
Now the big man upstairs is enlisting Alexa to help him regain a little bit of airtime in British homes. And who said Christianity is behind the times?
The Church of England has launched a new Alexa skill to assist with its digital outreach. The official Alexa skill offers daily prayers, information on the nearest church and answers existential questions like ‘who is God?’and ‘what is the Bible?’
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Available on the Amazon Echo range and through other devices with Alexa integration, users will be able to request a reading for the day, as well as morning and nighttime prayers and a grace before meals.
According to the Archbishop of York (via Guardian), it’ll “enable regular churchgoers and those exploring faith to connect with God in another way at a time that’s right for them. A quarter of UK households now own a smart device and … this fast-growing area was identified as a priority for development.”
The C of E’s head go digital Adrian Harris said the priority is Alexa right now, but efforts are underway to bring the skill to Google and Apple devices.
He added: “Platforms such as Alexa give the church the ability to connect people with God and to weave faith into daily lives, whether for daily prayers or exploring Christianity.”
What’s your favourite Alexa skill? Are there any you’d struggle to live without? Let us know @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
