LG has begun rolling out built-in Amazon Alexa support for its 2019 TV models in 14 countries. The update will reach North America first, followed by Europe and Asia in the coming weeks.
TV voice control via Alexa
Last year's LG TVs feature built-in Google Assistant as well as Amazon Alexa compatibility via en external speaker such as the Amazon Echo. This year's LG TVs will feature built-in Amazon Alexa for improved functionality.
- "With the Alexa app, owners of compatible LG TVs can ask questions, control smart home products, access over 90,000 Alexa Skills and more, all without the need for a separate external device. And LG’s 2019 TVs can understand hundreds of voice commands and handle requests of greater complexity than ever before thanks to more advanced LG ThinQ AI conversational voice recognition technology," said LG.
LG explains that Alexa also supports routines, allowing users to link together a series of actions.
Amazon Alexa support is rolling out to LG 2019 OLED and LCD (including "NanoCell") in 14 countries: Austria, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, United Kingdom and United States.
LG says that "customers in North America will begin receiving the update this month, followed by customers in Europe and Asia in the weeks to come".
Support for built-in Alexa will not be added to previous years' TVs. LG does not provide updates to its webOS platform.
The company added that its 2019 TVs will receive Apple AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support via a mid-year update. These features will allow users to use Siri voice control via an iPhone, iPad or HomePod to control certain aspects of the TV. As such, LG TVs will soon support three third-part voice assistants.
By adding support for Alexa, LG believes that it is "simplifying customers’ lives". It is part of the company's push into "AI" technology with its 'ThinQ' initiative. Alexa has gained popularity in recent years, mainly in the US, but it has also been the subject of controversy as it has been revealed that some voice queries are recorded for listening analysis by Amazon employees who in some instances have tools to identify the person asking questions.
If you want to use Alexa in your LG 2019 TV you must download the Alexa app from the TV's app store.
