Are interactions with Alexa still only one way? (Alexa can control HA devices, but HA can't control non-HA Alexa-devices?)

Third party integrations
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I was wondering if the Alexa integration (specifically the cloud/subscription option) is still one way. I remember that you can ask Alexa to control a device within HA through the HA skill. However, you couldn’t trigger a device on Alexa from HA (ie, have HA send Alexa a command or simulated voice command like the Ezlo Plus hub can). This would be helpful for devices that HA doesn’t have access to directly, or for easily running routines or groups within Alexa’s settings. I know there was some haphazard solutions for routines in the past. However, it would be nice to be able to have HA send a “Alexa, [whatever your command is]” so that this can be part of your HA automation and anything else you’d like to use it for.

This will also be a make it or break feature for my subscribing or not. Because, if it is only one way, then I will continue to keep the Ezlo hub in the mix for Alexa-related tasks and use the Vera Plus as a bridge between the Ezlo and HA (since Ezlo hubs aren’t supported in HA yet).

If you can communicate with Alexa both ways, then I will dump the Ezlo and Vera hubs and consolidate everything to just HA and subscribe.

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You do not need a Home Assistant Cloud subscription… you can emulate voice commands using the Alexa Media Player integration’s “custom” command

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The only issue with that one is that it uses the unofficial API and Amazon can block access to it any time they want. Not so reliable. Imagine spending an incredible amount of time slowly moving everything from the Vera and Ezlo hubs over to HA and getting everything to work with Alexa using this method and then weeks later have it all for nothing when Amazon puts their foot down on it all. Then it’s spending all that time to move everything back to the other two hubs and get the interactions working again. I’d lose my patience pretty quickly if that happened.