Maria Diaz/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. Virtual assistants will soon be as commonplace as smartphones -- in many parts of the world, they already are. Most smartphones have a built-in assistant powered by artificial intelligence (AI), whether it's Siri in iPhones or Google Assistant (now Gemini) in Android phones. Inside our homes, though, Amazon Alexa has become the most popular virtual assistant in the US and even around the world. Users from various countries outside the US keep Echo devices in their homes with Alexa set to different languages, becoming a widely adopted virtual assistant. Also: 4 rumored Amazon products that have me truly excited for the September 30 event I've been using Alexa for a few years, and here are some ways it's changed the way I manage my smart home and use my Echo devices. 1. Become a lighting assistant Each time I enter my bedroom's en suite bathroom, an Echo Dot greets me by turning on the lights and saying, "Hello, gorgeous." The Echo Dot's occupancy sensor detects when someone is around and runs the routine of switching on the lights and saying the phrase. I have a smart wall light switch with a built-in motion sensor that constantly goes off at night each time a car's headlights are spotted on the window opposite it. Aside from getting creeped out when my bathroom lights randomly turned on at four in the morning, it was getting annoying, so I delegated the task to Alexa. 2. Streamline your nightly routines Maria Diaz/ZDNET You've probably heard of the "Alexa, good night" routine for switching off your smart lights. However, there are many ways to make the most of this and create multiple routines for each bedroom or area in your home. For our main living area, I have a lights-out routine that switches off the living room, kitchen, office, and outdoor lights. This is done with smart lights and smart plugs. Also: All your Alexa recordings will go to the cloud soon, as Amazon sunsets Echo privacy Our kids' room has its own routine: When we say, "Alexa, it's bedtime," their sound machine comes on (powered by a smart plug), their bedside lamp switches off, and their smart light strip turns on to 2% brightness to work as a night light. When I'm ready for bed, another Alexa command switches off my smart lights, turns on the smart plug on my fan, and sets my smart air purifier into sleep mode. 3. Find my phone I often seem to lose my phone when my Apple Watch is dead, but a quick word to Alexa easily solves that. I can just say, "Alexa, find my phone," and the voice assistant initiates a phone call to ring it. Also: Everything you need to know about Alexa+, Amazon's generative AI assistant 4. Make Alexa your landline Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET Alexa works for my family much like a landline used to work in my home growing up. Whenever I'm out and can't reach my husband if he's busy with the kids, I can call one of my Echo devices or make an announcement to get in touch with them. Also: Amazon's new AI agent can make an ad from start to finish - how to try it My kids are getting older, but I have yet to buy them a smartphone, so their Echo Show 5 in their room also helps me reach them easily when I have to talk to them. 5. Prompt your kids to the next task In the mornings, my kids have an alarm and morning routine through Alexa on their Echo Show, which helps wake them before school. Weekday mornings are busy in my house, as I'm busy packing lunches and snacks at the same time that my little ones are getting dressed, so Alexa nudges them to the next task. A few minutes after their alarm goes off, Alexa switches their lights to daylight white in 100% brightness and tells my kids, "Let's get ready for school." Some time later, it says, "Okay, it's time to go downstairs." This helps my kids stay on task so they're ready to go with their beds made at the right time. 6. Track your packages Alexa can track your Amazon orders from an Echo device by simply asking, "Alexa, where are my packages?" The virtual assistant then tells you where your orders are in their shipping process, and when you can expect them at your door. 7. Multiple timers at once Maria Diaz/ZDNET The Echo Show 21 is my kitchen companion, thanks to its large display that doubles as a Fire TV, strong speakers, and built-in Alexa. I use it to ask Alexa for recipes and set multiple timers for different things at once. Also: 5 ways Amazon can make an AI-powered Alexa subscription worth the cost If I'm baking and cooking at the same time, it's easy to ask Alexa to keep a cupcake timer, a chili timer, etc. The voice assistant then tracks the multiple timers by name and lets you know which one is done. 8. Make your choices more fun Many of us use Alexa for fun stuff, like a joke, a fun fact, or definitions. However, you can also ask it to make lighthearted decisions for you. Are you and your partner split on what to eat for dinner? Ask Alexa to flip a coin. If your kids are voting about what game to play for game night? Ask Alexa to roll a die. If you enable the Spin the Wheel skill, you can even give Alexa up to ten names and ask it to spin the wheel to choose one at random. 9. Act as a white noise machine An Echo speaker can work as a white noise machine, and Alexa can play many different types of sounds, from thunderstorms to brown noise. You can add the feature to your nightly routine or ask the voice assistant for it on the fly. 10. Substitute ingredients and measurements As a go-to cooking companion, Alexa can easily offer you ingredient substitution and measurement adaptations, so you can adjust to what you have at home as needed. For example, you can ask Alexa how many tablespoons are in ⅓ cup, or what you can use in place of butter in a cake. 11. Read a bedtime story Maria Diaz/ZDNET My kids love a bedtime story, especially made-up ones from their dad (Peter Pants is currently a big hit in my home). Thankfully, the Amazon Kids+ subscription, which comes free for a period of time when you buy a kids' Amazon device, lets you activate a Hey Disney skill that includes plenty of Disney stories and soundscapes. Also: Best early Prime Day Amazon Echo device deals 2025: My 10 favorites sales ahead of October An Echo device also lets you access Audible stories. You can ask Alexa for these short stories, narrated by charming characters that are sure to offer screen–free entertainment for your kids. 12. Handle your pet care Smart pet feeders have been a game-changer for my dog, especially with how busy our lives can be. These inexpensive devices make a big difference in my dog's day-to-day life and are easy to connect with third-party voice assistants, like Alexa and Google. It makes it easy to ask Alexa to feed my dog as needed, or set up routines to feed him when the backyard lights come on, for example. I can also pair the smart feeder with other devices, so Alexa switches on the lights in his area and feeds him in the early morning.