“Ok Alexa how do dogs bark!” The next time you command Alexa, try to use it for your safety. Who knows you could get a job. Yes, that’s what happened with 13-year-old Nikita from Basti district of Uttar Pradesh who used Alexa to ward off monkey menace at her home. Right after the incident Anand Mahindra, chairman of Mahindra group, posted on social media about Nikita’s “quick thinking as extraordinary”. He has also promised her a job after she completes her education, and in case she ever wants to work at Mahindra.
“The dominant question of our era is whether we will become slaves or masters of technology. The story of this young girl provides comfort that technology will always be an ENABLER of human ingenuity. Her quick thinking was extraordinary. What she demonstrated was the potential for leadership in an entirely unpredictable world,” Mahindra posted on X, the platform previously known as Twitter.
“After she finishes her education, If she ever decides to work in the corporate world I hope we at @MahindraRise will be able to convince her to join us!!” he added.
Dance Monkey!
Reportedly, monkeys entered Nikita’s home through a gate that was left open by visiting guests. From there, they found their way to the kitchen. Nikita’s younger sister spotted the monkeys, got scared, and raised the alarm. With insights from Asian News International (ANI), a news agency, Nikita explained that upon hearing her sister’s cries, she came to the kitchen, and found the monkeys creating a ruckus. She quickly commanded Alexa to play ‘dogs barking’ to ward off the monkeys.
The incident has led experts to think that technology was the big enabler here. It can always be a helping hand if you will. However, critics argue that it was actually Nikita’s great presence of mind and quick wit that saved the day.
Alexa ‘What’s the conclusion?’
From what it is understood, Nikita did not lose her calm and composure and was patient enough to observe her surroundings as she quickly realised she had an Amazon Echo Dot smart speaker in the house. “The incident in Basti is a great example of how quick thinking paired with easy-to-use technology like Alexa can be of assistance around the house,” an Amazon Alexa spokesperson said in a prepared statement, adding, “It is very simple to just ask Alexa in English, Hindi or Hinglish for music, information, and in this case the sound of a dog barking.”
Reportedly, Amazon says devices with Alexa such as Echo smart speakers and the Fire TV Stick have been purchased from about 99% pin codes in India, in both metro and non-metro cities. Additionally, Amazon saw a 200% increase in smart home devices connected to Alexa in the last three years. Amazon attributes the rise to easy setup and skills, the currency for all the things that users can do with Alexa.