Conversation Mode lets you give commands to Alexa more easily, but may be slowed down by the Show 8’s static design.
What is old is now new again as Amazon is rolling out Alexa’s Conversation Mode to the second generation of Echo Show 8 smart displays.
If Conversation Mode sounds familiar to you, that’s because it first appeared on the third generation of Echo Show 10 smart displays back in December 2021. And by all accounts, this version of the feature (opens in new tab) is identical to the older one. Amazon is essentially making this emerging tech more available to its users. What it does is allow you to give commands to Alexa without having to constantly say its wake word. The result is more natural-sounding conversations with Alexa.
To activate the mode, you first say the device’s wake word (by default it’s “Alexa”) and then you can say either “turn on Conversation Mode” or “join the conversation.” Now everyone in the room can give the Echo Show 8 commands just by speaking to it like telling it to add items to a grocery list. And you’ll know the mode has been activated if you see a solid blue border around the Show 8’s screen.
