Amazon has introduced a new Flash Briefing Skill API that allows any developer to create an Alexa Skill that adds content into Alexa’s flash briefing feature. Currently there are only a few dozen sources available for customers to choose from in Alexa’s news reader, which Amazon has individually invited to participate. The addition of this new API means any developer can create a news feed that customers can add to their flash briefing.

Developers have the option to submit a flash briefing skill that either plays a short audio clip or contains text for Alexa to read. Audio clips must be less than 10 minutes in length, and text feeds must contain 1 to 5 unique items that do not exceed 1,500 characters each.

The format of Flash Briefing Skills is nearly identical to that of RSS feeds, so it will be relatively easy for most news outlets and blogs to port their existing feed into one that works with Alexa. The number of different feeds one can add to Alexa’s flash briefing is currently just over 250, but expect that number to explode once developers take advantage of this new API.

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