I have had Alexa Echo devices from Amazon in my house for years, so when it’s time for bed, all I have to say is “Alexa, turn off the lamp” to darken our bedroom. I also use my voice to play music or get answers to questions, especially now that Amazon has upgraded my devices to Alexa+, which uses AI and a large language model similar to ChatGPT to provide detailed answers to almost anything I might ask.

Google Assistant, which works with Android devices and Google speakers, has similar functions.

Pushing buttons vs using your voice

There are times when I don’t want to use my voice, such as turning off the bedroom lights or adjusting our heater when my wife is sleeping so as not to wake her. So, I installed a $20 Amazon Basics Smart Dimmer Switch and Remote, which works with Alexa to do anything—or any series of things—that can be set up as an Alexa routine. The switch, which is wireless and runs off a coin-size battery, can be placed anywhere and can run eight different routines by programming a short and long press for each of its four buttons. I have it set up to turn the light on with a short press of the top button, turn it off with the bottom button, and use long presses to dim or brighten the bulb. I’ve programmed another button to control my heating system and one to control my bedroom dehumidifier. I could also program buttons to play music, arm our security system or perform anything else that can be done with an Alexa routine.

I bought an identical remote for my wife’s side of the bed and a third remote to control the lights in my garage, including one button that runs a routine turning the lights on for 10 minutes and another that keeps them on for 40 minutes, so I don’t have to worry about forgetting to turn them off. Another Alexa routine turns off all the lights at midnight – just in case we forgot and I have other routines that turn on the downstairs heat in the morning and one that turns on chargers for a few minutes a day to make sure my devices are topped off but not overcharged because some of my devices may not have the battery management systems built into smart phones.

Creating routines via AI

Creating Alexa routines has never been daunting but used to be a bit cumbersome. Now, thanks to the AI in Alexa+, it can be done with simple voice commands like “Alexa, create a routine to turn on the bedroom light for 10 minutes” or “turn off the bedroom light and the garage light and arm the security system.” Once these routines are created, you can run them with your voice, assign them to a button on the remote, or configure them to run on a schedule such as sunrise, sunset, or a specific time. You can also have Alexa turn on lights when an Echo device detects someone entering a room or when it hears a sound such as water running, an appliance beeping, or a dog barking. One routine from the Alexa gallery will “soothe your crying baby by playing lullabies at night.” Echo smart speakers start at about $32 when they’re not on sale and a lot less when they are.

I have also used Alexa to turn old appliances into smart appliances. I have an old heater that I can turn on and off with my voice or a remote switch because it’s connected to an outlet with an Alexa-compatible smart plug. The speakers attached to my computer turn off automatically late at night, but I can turn them back on with my voice. The fixture for the porch light near my front door has been there since the house was built in 1955, but it now has a smart LED bulb that not only turns on and off automatically but can be dimmed or set to a rainbow of colors by voice commands or the smart remote. Smart plugs cost as little as $7 each—sometimes less when on sale—and smart bulbs start at under $10.

There are also smart sensing devices like the Govee Smart Air Quality Monitor and Amazon Alexa Air Quality Monitor that are also smart thermostats and hygrometers that can turn smart heaters, dehumidifiers, humidifiers and air purifiers on or off depending on the conditions in the room. I have a Molekule air purifier that runs almost silently when the air is clean and kicks into high gear when it detects smoke, or other pollutants in the air. It works with Alexa but doesn’t require it for automatic operations.

Motion Sensor Lights Not all the lights in my house are connected to Alexa. Some are simply rechargeable LEDs with motion sensors. I purchased several “under-cabinet lights” for as little as $12 for a three-pack that come with stick-on adhesive plates that attach to walls, cabinet doors, on staircases or the underside of cabinets to hold the light by its strong built-in magnet. Of the ones I tried, my favorite is the Gritin 10.2inch Under Cabinet Lighting Rechargeable, which costs $9.98 for a 2-pack on Amazon. The sensors turn them on when I open a door or drawer or when I approach a location where they’re installed, such as the one above my kitchen sink. They can easily be removed from their magnetic mount and charged with the included USB cable. They come in various lengths and have switches that let you choose when they should be on, off, or activated by motion when it’s dark—or, optionally, even when it’s not. I have them installed in several cabinets and even travel with one to place in hotel rooms so I can find the bathroom in the middle of the night.

For all the hype around AI and smart homes, it’s not must about cutting edge and expensive technology but — small conveniences that quietly improve daily life.. A few low-cost gadgets, and a few simple routines can make life just a little bit easier.

Larry Magid is a tech journalist and internet safety activist. Contact him at larry@larrymagid.com.

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