Amazon unveils AI-powered Alexa, Alexa Plus
Amazon’s AI-powered Alexa+ revolutionises smart speakers with advanced conversational abilities and more useful features.
Alexa gets an AI makeover
Amazon has officially revealed Alexa+, a new AI-powered upgrade designed to make Alexa more intuitive and conversational. The smart assistant is now infused with generative AI, promising a more natural, human-like interaction.
Beyond responding to basic commands, Alexa+ acts as an AI agent, capable of executing tasks like booking reservations, creating personalised routines, and seamlessly integrating with smart home devices.
Daniel Rausch, Amazon Alexa and Echo VP
Smarter features and seamless integrations
A key element of Alexa+ is its ability to interact with both first- and third-party apps and services. Users can now effortlessly connect with apps like Uber Eats, Zoom, Xbox, Grubhub, and Ticketmaster. This means Alexa can:
- Remind you about concert tickets and upcoming events.
- Order your food from favourite restaurants.
- Manage your schedule by adding reminders and making reservations.
Alexa+ integration also enhances smart home functionality. Accessing your smart security camera, it can now answer questions like whether anyone has recently walked the dog.
Acting as your agent, Amazon’s new AI assistant helps complete actions on behalf of its users. Some of its standout abilities include:
- Memorising preferences like diet habits to assist with grocery shopping.
- Summarising and analysing texts, even quizzing you on key details.
- Planning trips and putting together an itinerary using sources like TripAdvisor.
- Finding songs based on vague descriptions and even skipping to specific movie scenes (although this took a couple of attempts in the demo).
Amazon is also upgrading the visual experience on Echo touchscreen devices, giving the UI a design overhaul. Through this, Alexa+ can also generate AI-powered art and stories. Amazon has also partnered with controversial AI music generator Suno, which enables users to generate AI songs with simple prompts.
Pricing and rollout
Alexa+ will cost $19.99 per month, matching competitors like ChatGPT Plus. However, Amazon Prime members will enjoy it at no extra cost.
Early access will be prioritised to users of Echo 8, 10, 15, and 21 in the next few weeks. With a wider rollout coming soon, Amazon has assured compatibility with “almost every” existing Alexa device.
Can Amazon win in the AI assistant race?
Amazon’s AI upgrade arrives late to a competitive field dominated by Google Gemini, ChatGPT, and Apple’s evolving Siri. However, Alexa+ holds a key advantage through Amazon’s massive ecosystem of over 600 million Alexa-enabled devices.
Unlike other AI assistants that exist primarily on mobile or desktop, Alexa+ will bring AI-powered voice interaction directly to speakers within homes. This will only accelerate the adoption of AI’s assistant, giving Amazon a major edge.
Will Alexa Plus be a hit?
With past delays and reports of challenges in development, skepticism lingers. Apple’s struggles with an AI-enhanced Siri further highlight how difficult it is to perfect an AI assistant.
Reports note that Amazon’s press conference didn’t provide much hands-on experience with Alexa+ outside of choreographed demos. However, if Amazon delivers on its promise, Alexa+ could be the first widely adopted consumer-focused AI smart agent.
