Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Smart Home
  3. News

Alexa now helps you turn your window AC unit from GE on and off with your voice

Add as a preferred source on Google

Summer is coming, and with it, your desperate need for air conditioning. But in the 21st century, no longer will you be bothered to physically get up to turn on your window unit. After all, you have to keep movement to a minimum in order to stop sweating.

Luckily, GE Appliances’ connected AC units for windows now integrate with Amazon Alexa for voice-activated capabilities. Thanks to a new Alexa skill from GE Appliances known as Geneva, you can just say, “Alexa, tell Geneva to turn on the air conditioner,” and your air conditioner will obey.

Recommended Videos

“Consumers today want easier and more convenient ways to control their appliances, and window air conditioners are no exception,” said Mark Evans, product manager of air products at GE. “Now that our connected window air conditioners integrate with Alexa, it’s easier than ever to turn on your air conditioner, adjust the cooling temperature, and more.”

Aside from just turning your unit on and off, you can also ask Alexa about the status of your AC, to set your fan to high (or low), or to enter energy saver mode. Just tell Geneva what to do (by way of Alexa), and you’ll be on your way to a more comfortable living environment in no time.

The new Alexa skill can also be integrated with other connected appliances, so you can actually ask Geneva about the active status of any smart home device you’re using. Moreover, you can now use as many of the same appliances you want (for example, multiple AC units) with the Geneva skill.

GE also promises that it’s added a “dash of personality” to Geneva, “making her sound like a part of the family.” AThe connected window air conditioners include models AEC08LW, AEC10AW, and AEC12AW, and all are available now.

Lulu Chang
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
Apple might be turning its HomeView into a security camera, and it makes perfect sense
HomeView's built-in camera might soon have a few more uses beyond FaceTime calls.
Apple HomeView feature

Apple’s recently unveiled HomeView smart display could also function as a home security camera, according to a new finding in its software. The device, which already has a built-in camera for FaceTime calls and facial recognition, could supposedly use the same hardware for motion detection, live streaming, and video recording through HomeKit Secure Video.

The feature was spotted by a Reddit user in the settings files of HomeView Software 27.2 (via TheVerge). Apple hasn’t officially announced anything about it yet, but the references suggest there are going to be a few more uses for the built-in camera.

Read more
What Mattress Firmness Is Right for Back Pain?
Why the right balance of cushioning and support matters for better sleep
Sleeping

This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Sleep Number.

Waking up with a stiff back is a miserable way to start the day. The usual advice is to buy the firmest mattress you can find. It sounds reasonable, but your spine, shoulders, and hips don’t work that way. The needs differ for each person, but there are a few ways you can get that healthy sleep with the right mattress.

Read more
How to Choose the Right Mattress for You
sleeping

This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Sleep Number.

Shopping for a new mattress sounds simple until you start looking. Memory foam or hybrid? Soft or firm? Cooling covers, pressure-relief zones, motion isolation, sleep tracking — suddenly, you're comparing features that barely existed the last time you bought a bed. Even the most expensive option could be a poor match.

Read more