When Amazon first introduced developer tools that let people build stuff for Alexa[1], the company made a conscious decision to call these functions "skills" rather than apps. It was a subtle way of making Alexa seem capable, and also, suggesting to developers that building these skills would be a low lift. With just a "few lines of code," Amazon promised[2], "you can build entirely new experiences designed around voice."
Amazon says most Echo users in the US have tried these third-party skills at least once, but getting them to work can be tricky. Alexa's voice skills often require super specific queries, and until Amazon started paying attention to the discovery process, taking the time to find new skills felt like a non-essential burden.
Now, Amazon has decided to make Alexa's skills all about you: your dad jokes, your homework, your birthday. Yesterday the company rolled out a tool called Blueprints[3], which helps anyone—even non-coders—build custom skills for their Echos.
The announcement felt like a curious little leap in the world of virtual assistance. (Can you imagine Apple letting people program Siri to say whatever they want?) It also seemed like a gimmick, but a good one—one that could encourage more people to embrace skills.
The website for Blueprints lists 21 different skills, categorized by topics like "fun and games," "home," and "storytelling." Annoyingly, the banner in the Alexa mobile app for Blueprints leads you to the mobile web, and at some point you’ll have to log into your Amazon account again. You also have to agree to Amazon’s terms for developers before you can make a new skill. Congrats! You’re a dev.
The Blueprints are not quite as customizable as you might think....