Try Alexa’s nerdiest Easter eggs on your Amazon Echo

GEEKING OUT

Amazon’s voice assistant keeps getting smarter and smarter as new features and capabilities are added, but Alexa has also become more of a joy to use recently thanks to nerdy little perks. Alexa is packed with many a nod to geek media and pop culture hidden in her cloud-powered brain, and if you ask the right questions, you’ll get some grin-inducing responses. Here are some of the queries you absolutely need to try with your Echo.

IT’S COMING HOME!

Alexa’s been busy geeking out with football trivia, which is just as well since the world is truly in motion and football fever is spreading faster than the Premier League diving epidemic. Ready for a kick around? Limber up, these are what you should be asking Alexa (if you don’t know already): Alexa, what is a ‘false nine’ in football? Alexa, what is advantage in football? Alexa, what is pressing in football? Alexa, what is counter-attacking in football? Alexa, what is ‘putting it in the mixer’ in football? Alexa, what is ‘parking the bus’ in football? Alexa, what is ‘Row Z’ in football? Alexa, why do international footballers win ‘caps’? Alexa, what does it mean when a football player plays ‘in the hole’? “Alexa, when’s the first World Cup game?” “Alexa, what teams are in the World Cup?” “Alexa, who won the last World Cup?” “Alexa, what country has won the most World Cups?” “Alexa, what group is Sweden in for the World Cup?”

TV CAMEOS

If you watched the latest season of Mr. Robot, you might have caught Alexa’s prominent cameo. You too can ask Alexa about when the world is supposed to end, and if you ask her about the show, she’ll even reference her own appearance. Bit full of herself, eh? “Alexa, when is the end of the world?” “Alexa, what do you think of Mr. Robot?”

GAMER DELIGHTS

Alexa’s gaming knowledge isn’t quite up to her levels of sci-fi geekdom, but the few game-related easter eggs she will play along with are pretty great. Asking “Does this unit have a soul?” recalls one of the best moments of Mass Effect 3, while the classic Portal query of “Is the cake a lie?” is ever a sweet treat. If you’re big on gaming, these are the questions you ought to fling Alexa’s way: “Alexa, Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start.” “Alexa, does this unit have a soul?” “Alexa, is the cake a lie?” “Alexa, do a barrel roll!” “Alexa, roll for initiative.” “Alexa, all your base are belong to us.”

TECH FRIENDS

Although Amazon would obviously love for you to stay within its ecosystem as much as possible, Alexa doesn’t exist in a vacuum. She knows that you may use other devices – after all, the Fire Phone didn’t exactly set the smartphone world ablaze now, did it? Luckily, Alex doesn’t hold a grudge. Ask her these tech-related questions for some surprising results: “Alexa, do you know Siri?” “Alexa, who is better, you or Siri?” “Alexa, what do you think about Google Now?” “Alexa, Simon says, I love Google.” “Alexa, can you pass the Turing test?” “Alexa, what do you think of the iPhone?” “Alexa, Mac or PC?”

SCI-FI SURPRISES

Ready for some fun sci-fi surprises? Run through this list – and be ever wary of her response about Skynet. (And, of course, change your wake word as needed.) “Alexa, what is the meaning of life, the universe, and everything?” “Alexa, open pod bay doors.” “Alexa, are we in the Matrix?” “Alexa, what are the three laws of robotics?” “Alexa, speak like Yoda.” “Alexa, use the Force.” “Alexa, do you know Hal?” “Alexa, self-destruct.” “Alexa, winter is coming.” “Alexa, set phasers to kill.” “Alexa, I am your father.” “Alexa, are you Skynet?” “Alexa, beam me up.” “Alexa, execute order 66.”