How to change Alexa’s voice - The Verge

Amazon has two options for its standard Alexa voice, one feminine and one masculine. There are also celebrity voice options from Samuel L. Jackson and Melissa McCarthy. Here’s how to set it up on Echo speakers and displays.

Alexa’s pleasant, feminine voice has filled the homes of millions over the past few years, but Amazon finally offered a viable choice last year when it released a masculine counterpart. Amazon was late to this. Apple and Google have offered different voices, both feminine and masculine, in their virtual assistants for years. But late or not, it’s now easy to switch up the dulcet tones of your virtual assistant.

In addition to the two main Alexa voices, Amazon also has celebrity voices. Right now, you can choose between Samuel L. Jackson, Shaquille O’Neal, and Melissa McCarthy. Last year, during the holiday season, Amazon added Santa Claus as a more limited “celebrity voice.” (He only answers certain holiday-related queries.)

The celebrity voices are programmed to work with certain phrases and answer select questions — mostly alarms and timers, jokes, or weather reports. Each has specific content tailored to its persona. For example, you can ask Samuel what he thinks of snakes and have Melissa tell you about Bridesmaids.

Celebrity voices cost $2.99 each as a one-time purchase. (Santa is free.) Any query to an Echo device that’s not supported by the chosen celebrity voice will get a response from the native Alexa voice — which can be either masculine or feminine.

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https://www.theverge.com/22588961/alexa-voice-echo-male-female-celebrity-how-to-change

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