A YOUNG woman has been at the butt of name jokes for around ten years... because both of her names match computerised assistants.
Alexa Seary gets teased every day because her surname is pronounced Siri — like Apple’s personal assistant.
Alexa Seary shares her name with two world famous voice servicesCredit: SWNS:South West News ServiceThen just as she was getting used to that, Amazon launched its own Echo household system — with an assistant named Alexa.
The 27-year-old - who works in social media marketing - has put up with years of jokers instructing her to carry out tasks.
Both of the AI assistants use voice technology to accept requests to play music, set reminders and find directions.
Millions blocked from iconic iPhone app forever after 10 years in major shutdownAlexa said: “All my family started to get jokes when Siri came out in 2011. For me it started off at my part-time job in a restaurant.
She has her name called out millions of times a day when people want somethingCredit: SWNS:South West News Service“It would be, ‘Siri, do this, Siri do that’.
“I work with a headset so I was getting told over it to do things as though I was a machine. But it was when Alexa started getting popular I realised I’d really run into a problem.”
Alexa was the brunt of jokes for years after Siri launched in 2011Credit: SWNS:South West News ServiceAmazon has sold more than 100 million devices with Alexa, and there are one billion iPhones in use.
She never expected it would happen to her first name as wellCredit: SWNS:South West News ServiceAlexa and her family, of Pennsylvania, US, all have the handsets.
She added: “Thankfully, no one in my family has an Alexa so far — I think that would be a complete disaster.”
Alexa works in social media marketing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the USCredit: SWNS:South West News Service"When Siri first came out I honestly didn't realise that it was pronounced the same was as my last name I thought it was 'sir-ee'.
"It was only when people began telling me otherwise that I realised I was in for some jokes.
People use 'personal assistants' like Siri and Alexa for everyday tasksCredit: SWNS:South West News Service"My manager referred to me strictly as Siri when he asked me to do different tasks so that gave everyone at work a laugh I actually started to get used to it.
"When the Alexa started getting really popular is when I realised I'd really run into a problem.
Millions of iPhone owners urged to check 'hidden mode' that can keep you safe Amazon Alexa is capable of voice interaction, music playback, making to-do lists, setting alarms and much moreCredit: PA:Press Association"I work with a headphone so I was literally getting told over the headphone to do things as though I was a machine.
Alexa shares her surname woes with her whole family"I'm stuck with this name. I'm hoping it all dies down a little bit but I don't think I'd change it."