Alexa Hears Calls for Help with OnStar Guardian Skill from GM

General Motors and Amazon today announced plans to introduce the OnStar Guardian skill for Amazon Alexa1, a new feature that will provide a voice-enabled connection to Emergency-Certified OnStar Advisors2 at home through compatible Alexa-enabled devices. The OnStar Guardian skill for Amazon Alexa is part of the OnStar Guardian platform, which aims to help keep people safe no matter where they are located.

When the OnStar Guardian skill for Amazon Alexa is enabled on compatible, in-home Alexa devices, household members can reach OnStar Emergency-Certified Advisors by saying, “Alexa, call for help,” during crisis situations, such as house fires, medical emergencies, break-ins and more.

“Through our collaboration with Amazon, people can now have access to OnStar’s Emergency-Certified Advisors in a place where they spend so much of their time — their home,” said Pam Fletcher, vice president, GM Global Innovation. “This is another great example of how we’re expanding the safety and security of OnStar beyond the vehicle to help more people, which demonstrates GM’s commitment to its growth strategy and innovating its software enabled services.”

“We’re excited to work with General Motors to introduce the OnStar Guardian skill to customers,” said Beatrice Geoffrin, director, Amazon Alexa. “This hands-free Alexa skill makes it easy for customers to get help from OnStar’s Emergency-Certified Advisors when they need it. We hope this feature helps give families greater peace of mind throughout their day-to-day lives at home.”

Over the last 25 years, OnStar has helped its members feel protected, connected, safe and secure. The OnStar Guardian platform, born out of GM’s Global Innovation organization, will continue to innovate and expand services for people, whether they are in a GM or non-GM vehicle, at home or elsewhere.

The OnStar Guardian skill for Amazon Alexa will initially be available to select OnStar members, with the intent to broadly roll out the service, beginning in 2022, to anyone in the United States with a compatible, in-home Alexa-enabled device, such as an Echo, Echo Dot or Echo Show. Initial OnStar members will receive more details about how to sign up for the OnStar Guardian skill for Amazon Alexa via email.

1 U.S. only. Limited pilot launch is for select existing OnStar Members only. OnStar services can be accessed only through supported Alexa-enabled devices. Select service plan required.  OnStar Guardian skill requires successful account linking with Amazon Alexa and completion of a safety profile to use.  Device data connection is required.  OnStar links to emergency services.  Amazon, Alexa and all related logos are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Terms apply. See onstar.com for details and limitations.

2Certified by the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch.