The BBC is developing a voice-activated assistant to compete with Amazon's Alexa or Apple's Siri

The BBC is developing a voice-activated electronic assistant to try to compete with Alexa or Amazon, Siri.

He will be similarly similar to a character – now known as "Auntie" by insiders, in reference to the BBC's nickname – but will be renamed before launching to make it more modern.

The wizard would be available as a free download on smartphones and smart TVs in the UK. This would allow users to search for information on the Internet by giving verbal instruction.

For example, users can ask the application to get weather reports, read the latest episode of The Archers or determine the fastest route to get to work.

A source said: "Instead of saying," Alexa, do you want …? "You would say," My aunt would you like … Aunt, what's the weather like? "

"It would be your trusted guide to information, education and entertainment. It's what these assistants are becoming: Siri, Alexa or Google. & # 39;

It's unclear how the BBC would make it available on smart speakers like those sold by Amazon and Google.

But this could be pre-loaded on the devices if the company could get the support of regulators to force the tech giants to open their systems.

"Auntie" is in its infancy and has not yet received the green light. But business leaders are planning a launch before the end of next year.

The BBC leaders want to make web access to Internet users easier through a British system rather than relying on the American giants of technology, according to insiders.

They also want to protect the BBC from "monopolistic" behaviors of Amazon, Apple and Google, which often place their own products above their rivals ".