Imagine loving your unique name for years, only for a tech giant to come along and turn it into a household command. That’s the saga of Alexa Nizam, who once basked in the uniqueness of her name until Amazon’s virtual assistant turned it into a source of relentless jokes and unwanted attention.
Alexa’s tale is one many can sympathize with, especially if your name’s Siri or Cortana. But for Alexa, it was a personal journey from name pride to name fatigue and, eventually, back to a semblance of acceptance. Once a name she cherished, “Alexa” became synonymous with weather updates and playlist controls, much to her chagrin.
In 2015, when Amazon launched its Echo device, little did Alexa Nizam know her name would soon trigger devices across the globe to perk up their virtual ears. At first, the references were mild and manageable. People would ask if she liked sharing her name with Amazon’s gadget. She’d brush it off, unaware of the avalanche of name-related quips headed her way.
Fast forward to 2018, and Alexa found herself in a retail job where not a day went by without a customer cracking a “hilarious” Alexa joke. “What’s the weather today, Alexa?” or “What time is it, Alexa?” became the unsolicited soundtrack of her life. Even acknowledgments like, “I bet you get those jokes all the time,” didn’t offer solace, as they too were part of the relentless wave of name-based humor she faced daily.
The pandemic era introduced a new layer to Alexa’s name saga. Zoom calls became minefields of accidental virtual assistant activations. Imagine trying to contribute to a meeting, only to set off a chorus of devices in various homes, all eager to assist the Alexa on the call, not in the room.
Despite these challenges, Alexa Nizam is finding her way back to name peace. She’s relearning to appreciate her name, despite its tech-tainted reputation. However, she does have one request: please don’t ask her for the weather or to play your favorite tunes. She’s heard it all before, and a little originality goes a long way.
So, next time you meet an Alexa, remember that she’s more than a wake word for your smart device. She’s a person who’s navigated a world where her name invokes commands more often than it does her attention. And if you’re thinking of a name for your newborn, maybe do a quick check to ensure it’s not on the verge of tech stardom. You’ll save them a lifetime of “original” jokes and ensure their name remains their own, not a prompt for the nearest smart speaker.
