1. Home
  2. Smart Home

How to set up Alexa Hunches

By

It’s no secret our smart digital assistants keep getting smarter. After all, even Amazon was bragging about new Alexa smarts at its latest product announcement. With the addition of A.I. to many smart home devices, our machines and virtual assistants are increasingly gaining the ability to not just carry out commands, but to anticipate our needs and act on them without intervention from us.

Creepy? Perhaps, but for those of us who believe in the benevolence of our smart home gadgets, not needing to program every little command is enticing. Amazon announced Alexa was getting the ability to act on what are called Hunches earlier in 2021. Here’s how to make the magic happen.

Recommended Videos

What are Alexa Hunches?

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Alexa Hunches essentially recognize when something isn’t as it should be and notifies you. Hunches also notice when you don’t do something Alexa has noticed you usually do. As an example, if you often ask Alexa to turn the furnace down before bed, if you forget one night, Alexa may prompt you by asking if you’d like to turn it down. In other words, it had a “Hunch” that you’d want to turn down the furnace, so it makes you the offer of completing that action, either by voice or push notification. Another common Hunch is that Alexa can start your robot vacuum if it has a Hunch you’re not at home. By the way, we’ve got all the details if you need a primer on who Alexa is and what it can do.

Alexa Hunches for security

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Alexa Hunches will also play a big role in Amazon’s new security service, Alexa Guard and Guard Plus. Guard Plus is an upgrade to Alexa Guard, a free service that enables Alexa to listen for trouble while you’re out of the house. The service can also mimic your daily smart light patterns. If Alexa hears activity like noise when it knows you’re gone, or something breaking, for example, it can send you a push notification alerting you to the event. Alexa can also issue a warning if it suspects an intruder.

Hunches are enabled by default, but for the most part, you still need to act on them. If you want Alexa to do more, you can also turn on automatic actions. In this case, Alexa can be more proactive. It’s worth noting that you’ll also need to enable location access for some Hunches and to set your home address.

How to set up on Alexa Hunches

To get started, or check the status of hunches in your Alexa smart home:

  1. Open the Alexa app.
  2. Select More > Settings.
  3. Scroll down and select Hunches.
  4. Select Set up Automatic Actions.
  5. Select the Hunches you want Alexa to act on.
  6. Follow the steps to approve permissions and choose preferences for the Hunch.

To turn off Alexa Hunches, just head back to the Alexa app the same way you went in above and turn off Hunches.

Alexa Hunches are just another way our smart digital assistants are getting smarter. With the ability to not just anticipate our needs and patterns, but to act on them proactively, you can see how features like these are designed to make life smarter, easier, and better.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Erin Lawrence
Erin has over 20 years of experience as a journalist in the media and news industries, with time both on camera and behind…
Best air conditioner deals: Portable and window units on sale

As summer quickly approaches and temperatures rising the last few years, you're probably thinking of investing in an air conditioner to help get you over those very hot days. While most folks may have a hard time installing a split unit, there are a lot of other options, including air conditioners you can put in a window, as well as portable air conditioners, that you can fall back on. Luckily, you don't have to spend an arm and a leg on them, as even some of the best air conditioner brands have solid deals on them, which is why we've collected our favorite air conditioner deals down below. Pair these with air purifier deals and humidifiers deals and you'll be able to control the climate in your home perfectly.
Evapolar evaCHILL — $84, was $99

The Evapolar evaCHILL provides personal comfort on a small scale. At just 6.77 x 6.69 x 6.69 inches, it is highly portable and perfect for taking with you on camping trips or other excursions. To use it, just fill up its 800mL tank, which provides about 8 hours of continuous use (though customers report lower times for high-heat scenarios). This makes it perfect for getting to sleep. Plus, since it uses water as a source of chill, it can double as a humidifier. The Evapolar evaCHILL charges via USB cable and consumes less than 10W of power.

Read more
Best washer and dryer deals: bundles from LG, Samsung and more

A new washer and dryer can add some convenience and efficiency to your household routine, as many of the best washing machines and best dryers offer a wide variety of smart features. They can also get costly, which is why we’ve tracked down some of the best washer and dryer deals you can shop. They include top washing machine brands Samsung and LG, as well as some other quality options. You can often find some great washers and dryers bundled with appliance package deals as well, and if you’re looking to upgrade kitchen appliances you should check out the current refrigerator deals, dishwasher deals, and oven deals.
Best LG washer and dryer deals

LG makes some awesome appliances. We've picked some medium-sized options, including a fairly cheap package deal available at Best Buy.

Read more
Best smart lock deals: Save on Yale, Wyze, August, and more

One way to add some security to your smart home is with a smart lock. It’s also a great way to add some savings to your smart home, as smart locks are often some of the best smart home deals you can find. You can often find discounts on even the best smart locks, and many of them will make a great addition alongside anything you can find among the best security camera deals and the best Ring doorbell deals. Below you’ll find all of the best smart lock deals worth shopping right now, as well as some information on why each might be best for you. If you’re looking to expand your smart home even further, you can also shop for some savings among the current lawn mower deals, vacuum deals, air conditioner deals, and robot vacuum deals.
Eufy Smart Lock C220 -- $100, was $150

The Eufy Smart Lock C220 may be controlled from anywhere using the Eufy Security app, which provides access management, real-time notifications, and event history. In addition to using the app, you can unlock the smart lock using your fingerprint, its keypad, a physical key, your Apple Watch, or your voice though Amazon's Alexa or Google Assistant. The Eufy Smart Lock C220's fingerprint recognition system learns after every touch, with the goal of improving precision.

Read more