Amazon has launched Alexa+, an upgraded version of its Alexa assistant powered by generative AI. Built on large language models from Anthropic and Amazon's own Amazon Nova suite, the assistant is marketed as smarter, more conversational, and better at handling complex requests. Amazon says Alexa+ is "able to orchestrate across tens of thousands of services and devices," a scale it claims has never been done before.
Users can access Alexa+ through Alexa-enabled devices such as the Amazon Echo and Fire TV, through Amazon's new tablets with Alexa+ built in, or through the Alexa app on iOS and Android. A free, text-based version is also available at www.alexa.com for quick answers, planning and research. Alexa+ is free for all Amazon Prime subscribers, who can upgrade by asking their Alexa device. Non-Prime users can subscribe to the Alexa+ service, or try a limited version through the app and website.
Amazon's Daniel Rausch, VP of Alexa and Echo, told Tech Radar that the system uses "experts" that gather information and complete tasks. Users can choose among four personality styles: Brief, Chill, Sweet and Sassy. Third-party integrations with Ticketmaster, Uber, Grubhub and OpenTable allow Alexa+ to handle multi-step plans, such as buying concert tickets, booking dinner and scheduling a rideshare.
Early adopters, however, say the assistant falls short of Amazon's hype. Reviewers have reported inconsistent answers that require double-checking, a chattiness some compare to an overly talkative neighbor, memory problems, and lag and hearing issues. Overall, Alexa+ is still going through the growing pains common to AI products. Many agree it is not yet the transformative tool Amazon advertises, but it can adequately handle many household tasks.
Source: Engadget · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing