Shuffling music, turning lights on, yes fine - because confirmation that the right thing has happened is instant and effortless. Anything else, I'll use a button or a screen.
Confirmation is required when dealing with humans as well ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11fCIGcCa9c (this reminds me of Alexa)
Then I timed myself setting a timer on my phone, which took 9 seconds from pocket to running.
Adding to a shopping list isn't clicking the "buy" button, no - but if it's not on the list I won't buy it and then I will have no toilet paper. I would not need a list if I could simply remember everything.
It’s not perfect though, for example when trying to add fruit and fibre cereal it will often add two items, “fruit” and “fibre”. But its close enough that when I get to the store and check the list I know what I intended to add to the list.
Are you saying this for comedic effect, or does the Alexa really do this? (I'd look it up myself, but good luck with that query...) To each their own, but I'd throw the device into the street if it pulled a stunt like that.
Then I timed myself setting a timer on my phone, which took 9 seconds from pocket to running.
To the Homepod or my Apple Watch: "hey, siri, tea timer for three minutes".
"Three minute tea timer, starting now."
I didn't think a product could screw that up. I would suppose it's a design decision between "assistant" and "servant that carries out my command without backtalk". There are times that I wish the Apple product were more "assistant" than "servant", but the Alexa product just sounds pushy.