AUBH launches Alexa skills to connect with students through voice technology

The American University of Bahrain (AUBH) just added voice technology to its campus with the launch of two Alexa skills. The new skills are aimed at providing students, educators, and parents with the ability to use their voice to deepen the learning experience and enrich university life whilst providing critical academic and campus information.

The AUBH Campus Alexa Skill offers students, faculty, and visitors a convenient way to navigate the campus and learn about what the University has to offer by asking questions to Amazon Echo devices inside campus buildings. Through the AUBH student Alexa Skill, students are able to connect to campus information and events. The Skill also integrates with the University’s system for students to access coursework, grades, and other school communication via the Alexa app on their smartphones.

Mr. William D. Hurt, AUBH’s Chief Operating Officer, said, ”We are thrilled to launch these AUBH Alexa Skills. We are committed to our promise to offer an innovative, high-tech experience to our students and faculty, and we are confident that these Alexa Skills will provide them with a unique, customized, and unmatched campus experience.”

The launch of the new Alexa Skills is in line with the AUBH’s innovative and “borderless” approach to shaping globally-minded and tech-savvy thought leaders, and represents yet another milestone for Bahrain’s leading American University in driving innovation both locally and regionally.

Bahrain has been a regional pioneer in innovation by ranking first in MENA for ICT readiness by the UN – in addition to implementing MENA’s first data jurisdiction law, allowing data stored in Bahrain to fall under its home country’s legal jurisdiction. The Kingdom is also home to an advanced digital infrastructure and is one of the first in the region to roll out 5G, enabling new technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, fintech and more.

The implementation of Alexa Skills at AUBH follows the launch of the region’s first AWS data centers in Bahrain in 2019, whichplayed an integral role in delivering Bahrain’s cloud-first policy and rapid adoption of cloud technologies by both, the public and private sectors, especially during COVID-19.