Getty/Stephen Brashear
- Smart home devices saw record sales during the 2018 holiday season, with Amazon's Alexa-enabled devices leading the charge.
- Alexa is Amazon's virtual assistant, capable of controlling an array of smart devices and executing unique tasks called "skills."
- Since Alexa launched in November 2014, developers have created more than 70,000 skills for Alexa. Skills can range from games and trivia to meditation routines.
It's been a big year for smart home technology, as more people adopt smart speakers, appliances, and other connected devices for everyday use. Amazon said the 2018 holiday season delivered record sales for smart home devices, and their own Alexa-enabled Echo smart speakers were among the most popular items.
Amazon's Alexa is one of the few virtual assistants capable of managing a wide range of smart home devices, and after four years of development, users can now ask Alexa to perform more than 70,000 programmed tasks, which Amazon refers to as skills.
Alexa skills are basically apps you can control with your voice, and they help customers enhance and personalize their experience. Skills can help users learn something new, enjoying a new game, or be more productive at home.
As 2018 draws to a close, Amazon announced the top Alexa skills used in the U.S. during the last year. The list is comprised of the most popular, engaging, and innovative skills and spans across several categories, including games, wellness, daily habits, family-oriented, and more.
You can check out the list of the top skills below and find them on Amazon's Skills of the Year page. You can also ask Alexa, "What are the skills of the year?"
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