Amazon Alexa gets male counterpart called Ziggy

Amazon has rolled out a new voice option for Alexa-powered devices and speakers and unlike Alexa’s feminine voice, Echo speakers now offer a new masculine-sounding voice option that has its own name, ‘Ziggy.’

The name -scheming is chosen to fit Amazon’s “A to Z”-style of branding.

Users can now trigger Amazon’s virtual assistant by a new Ziggy wake-up command instead of the existing prefixes such as Alexa, Computer, Echo, and Amazon.

Although, Amazon has not yet officially shared the development, and the feature appears to be limited to select regions.

The Verge reported that there are two ways users can change the voice of Alexa on Echo devices: through the device itself or via the Alexa mobile app. Also, it is said that Alexa’s voice’s on the Amazon Alexa app cannot be changed yet.

In order to change the voice option on Echo or Echo Show, say the command “Alexa change your voice.”

The Verge reported that Alexa will respond with the new voice and confirm that is how it will sound going forward if the method is successful (and available). On the other hand, to change the voice through the app, head to the Devices tab at the bottom > Tap on the Echo & Alexa button in the top left > Select device > Look for Settings cog wheel button at the upper right corner > Scroll down and look for the option Alexa’s Voice.

Users can choose either Original (the feminine voice) or new (the masculine voice), if available.

Amazon has only offered its feminine-sounding voice option since the Echo speaker debuted in 2013.