Instructor: Dr Russ Beckmeyer received his PhD from the University of Missouri. He has more than 50 years of applied computer technology experience with micro-computers, super-computers, networks, software, and computer security. After an extensive career at the Savannah River Site, he spent the last 5 years of his professional career as an engineering director for two different small nuclear reactors. Dr. Beckmeyer has been with the Center’s Tech Section since 2018. Description: Amazon’s adoption of Alexa, an artificial intelligence assistant, has changed the way we control and interface with our gadgets. With a click of a button, Alexa can tell you things, play music for you, set alarms, or even control your home appliances, just to mention a few. But what exactly is this futuristic AI assistant, Alexa, and how does it work? In this Tech Talk, we will present the basics of how Alexa works, present the most popular usage, and discuss your questions and experiences with this new device making life easier.