My mum uses hers as a better quality radio in the kitchen, as a multiple timer when she's cooking and sets reminders to take her tablets four times a day. My wife uses hers to control the heating (bills down 20% since installation), to control the lights, open curtains, music, set shopping lists and reminders for her meds - all from her wheelchair wherever she is in the house. I use it for music, kitchen timers, converting units, following recipes etc at home and in the car for music, news, learning Spanish, translating, and reminder lists.
All the stuff about it recording and monitoring could equally be applied to your phone, laptop, tablet, smartwatch etc etc
ETA - my wife's just reminded me she has an emergency alert set on it so if she falls she can tell Alexa to alert me and/or others in the family.