Here’s the Bizarre Way Amazon’s Alexa Wants to Make Your First Date Less Awkward

Technology doesn’t always work when we need it to. But it does make our lives a little easier when we’re in sync with it. Amazon’s Alexa doesn’t just want to help you order groceries or read you the news. She wants to take her “personal assistant” role one step further, and make your first date a success. Here’s how.

Who is Alexa?

Amazon’s Alexa is a virtual assistant — similar to Apple’s Siri — that performs tasks based on your voice commands. At your request, she can check the weather, order pizza, add an appointment to your calendar, and play songs from your music library.

Alexa can “learn” a variety of skills to help automate your life. She can now even help you get ready for your next romantic encounter.

Next: Is online dating as common as it seems?

If you’re dating online, you’re still part of the minority

There’s still some stigma surrounding the online dating scene, but it’s gradually fading. In 2016, the Pew Research Center reported that about 15% of adults in the United States have used online dating apps or websites.

It’s estimated that about a third of those who have used online dating services have never actually gone on a date with someone they met online. Amazon and Match want to change that.

Next: You probably never thought you’d witness a business partnership like this.

Alexa meets Match

Amazon and Match partnered up at the end of 2017 to combine everything you love about having an AI assistant with some of the most helpful advice a dating website can offer.

First Date What Ifs is the dating app feature you never knew you needed. You can now access the skill from Alexa’s database and watch it change your life.

Next: Alexa knows your first-date fears better than you do.

So, what if … ?

This new Alexa skill uses a familiar Q&A-style function to answer the questions people ponder most before meeting their date in person for the first time. If you’ve ever wondered, “What if … ?” silently to yourself as you waited for a date to arrive, this is the skill you’re looking for.

Next: Anxious about your first date? You’re not the only one.

Have first-date anxiety?

Let’s be honest — first dates are awkward. You’re both probably dealing with a lot of anxiety before you even leave the house. That’s normal. It’s also preventable.

Alexa now allows you to ask questions that will ease these anxieties and help make your first date tolerable, at least. She’ll answer everything you need to know about how to handle worst-case scenarios — as best as any AI can, anyway.

Next: Black Mirror fans, beware.

This might sound familiar …

It’s the first time an online dating service and an AI assistant have joined forces like this — in the real world, that is. Fans of the chilling dystopian Netflix series “Black Mirror” might be tempted to steer clear of Alexa’s new skill, since more than one episode to date has featured a scenario in which AI-assisted dating has gone terribly wrong.

No need to worry, though. Alexa can only answer a set number of “what if” questions. She (probably) isn’t actually spying on you.

Next: Already have a significant other? Alexa can still make your lives better.

What else can Amazon’s Alexa do?

Already dating someone — or happily married? Alexa can improve your relationship even more. She can play music to set the date night mood and order dinner for the two of you to share without having to leave the house. The possibilities are endless.

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