Outcomes indicate using Alexa, a human name, as a wake word is a violation of one's fundamental tenets of identity which should be used freely and without continuous turmoil.

Alexa Coalition, an advocacy group, believes Amazon needs to rebrand the default wake word and brand of its voice assistant from “Alexa” to a non-human name [e.g. Amazon or Computer] or implement customization. 

We also believe the education sector must ensure best practices in voice technology in education through the implementation of a policy which requires schools worldwide to use non-human names as a wake word when utilizing voice assistants as a teaching tool.

No. This niche voice tech issue is far more involved than what one may see on the surface. Alexas {& those with similar names} have been impacted at varying degrees ranging from no impact to profound. We believe Amazon, the voice tech industry and the education sector must address this in order to ensure best practices are implemented.

The outcomes strongly indicate there is a lack of appropriate standards in voice technology. 

True, however, none of them have resulted in millions of people every day giving spoken orders, out loud, to a machine by starting the order with a human name like Alexa.

Turning a real name into the wake word of very common tech devices renders that name unusable for humans; anyone talking to or about them will activate the AI and cause chaos and irritation.

No. We suspect when Amazon selected the name, they didn't realize their decision to base the name of the assistant on a human being was going to create issues. What we are saying now though is that this voice tech issue is creating a multitude of issues to Alexas and users so Amazon must remedy the situation.

True, however, that is a surface level perspective. 

(1) The default wake word is “Alexa” and people rarely change it to anything else, and (2) Amazon aggressively markets the voice assistant as “Alexa." 

What we are asking is for Amazon to stop using the name Alexa or any human name. "Just change the wake word" does not address our concern and is one of the most common assumed solutions, yet blind spots persist. 

It is not reasonable and ethical to expect a group of people to continuously request a wake word change so they have uninterrupted access to their birth name. 

In addition, 730+ products don't allow a wake word change. 

It's not too much of an ask for a company whose product has caused people to lose use of their own name to modify that product in order to rectify the outcomes. Amazon has access to the best minds in the world. They could adopt a new non-human wake word  or do as Google, use "Amazon." 

Amazon has massive resources so the cost factor is almost moot. Technically, this is a trivial matter. As for their branding, Amazon has done far more challenging things than rebrand a product.  

Watch this video to see how Amazon can easily change the behavior of people utilizing their voice technology. It shows you a vision of what Amazon can do to transition from having people use "Alexa" and instead start using a non-human name such as "Amazon". 

No, we do not. If we are to hold that good corporate citizenship is something more than a buzzword & a marketing slogan, then the expectation would be to acknowledge the error in judgement & its impact on millions of people and rectify the mistake, even if it’s inconvenient or expensive.  

Market Cap: 

1. Ford = $62.71 Billion 

2. GM = $84.19 Billion 

3. Honda = $53.24 Billion 

4. Toyota = $246.42 Billion

Total = $446.56 Billion 

Amazon = $1.726 Trillion  

If 1-4 can do product recalls for their cars, Amazon can do one for their speaker. 

We’re not obligated to provide a replacement wake word to one of the biggest companies on earth in order to get our name back. Amazon has plenty of resources to employ experts who can do that for them; it simply must not result in people losing use of their own name.

Amazon has responded to the complaints by stating they are saddened by the situation and are against bullying of any form. This has been the extent of their response. 

They have not acknowledged the harm done or officially engaged with the people who have brought up this voice tech issue. 

1. For Amazon to stop marketing the voice assistant as "Alexa" and rebrand the default wake word "Alexa" to a non-human name or customization. 

2. For the education sector to establish better standards of practice in voice technology in education and require the use of non-human names only for educators who integrate voice assistants as a teaching tool in classrooms. [e.g. Amazon and Computer]