After five years of Amazon’s Alexa, why isn’t it better?

Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge

Five years ago today, Amazon surprised the tech press by unveiling Alexa and the Echo, its first smart speaker. “Well this one came out of nowhere,” was the reaction of Verge reporter Chris Welch.

Five years later, Alexa is a household name — literally. If you have children and an Alexa device, they probably know how to ask the robot to play their favorite songs at breakfast. You might have Alexa in your kitchen, on your bedside table, or even in your car.

But half a decade after Alexa launched, there’s a lingering question: has Amazon’s assistant actually become more useful?

Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

Years later, I still use my Echo for the same basic jobs.

For me, the answer is a clear “no.” I...

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