Ziggy: Alexa gets a new wake word and an updated voice. Here's how to change both.

Brett Molina, USA TODAY
·2 min read
An Amazon Echo smart speaker.
An Amazon Echo smart speaker.

Amazon has rolled out some new ways to interact with its digital voice assistant, Alexa.

The assistant available on Amazon devices such as Echo speakers will now answer to a new wake word: Ziggy. Also, users can ask to Alexa to "change your voice" to someone with a more masculine or deeper voice.

Changing Alexa's wake word isn't new. Although the assistant is always known as Alexa, users can update the wake words they use to get Alexa to answer, including "Amazon," "Echo" and "Computer."

The new voice and wake words launched on July 15. Users can either say "Alexa, change the wake word," or follow these steps, according to Amazon:

  • Open the Alexa app and go to the menu.

  • Select Settings, then choose Device Settings

  • Pick the device you want to update with the new wake word.

  • Pick the wake word you want.

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To change Alexa's voice from feminine to masculine, users can simply say "Alexa, change your voice."

Users can also add a little celebrity flair to Alexa. After introducing an option to add actor Samuel L. Jackson's voice to queries made to Alexa, Amazon has launched similar offerings featuring actress Melissa McCarthy and NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal. Users can simply say "Hey Melissa" or "Hey Shaq."

"Customers have had a lot of fun with the Samuel L. Jackson experience on Alexa, and when customers love something, we look for ways to give them more of it,” said Toni Reid, vice president of Alexa Experience & Echo Devices, in a statement.

Users can add the celebrity voices for $4.99 each.

Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Amazon Alexa's wake word, voice get update. How to activate them