Amazon recently announced an AI-enhanced version of its digital assistant, Alexa, dubbed “Alexa+.” The company anticipates this upgrade will significantly improve Alexa’s conversational skills and introduce generative AI capabilities, addressing a long-standing challenge for voice assistants like Siri.
Bringing generative AI to Alexa represents a considerable shift. Previously limited to basic tasks and information retrieval, Alexa can now handle multiple requests simultaneously and even generate its own responses. This advancement was highlighted at the recent Amazon event.
“Up until a couple years ago, it was pretty difficult to invent with AI, and that changed with the arrival of foundational models and generative AI,” explained Andy Jassy, the CEO of Amazon, at the event. “This made the technology much more accessible, so people can see the power and magic of what generative AI can do.”
Alexa+ is slated for a phased rollout, beginning in the United States within the next few weeks. Initially, it will be available on Echo Show devices (Echo devices with video displays), including the Echo Show 8, 10, 15, and 21. Access to the AI assistant is included free of charge for Amazon Prime members. For non-members, the service will be available for a monthly fee of $19.99. Given the prevalence of Prime memberships among Echo device users, the paid option may see limited adoption.
Amazon initially announced AI integration with Alexa two years ago but postponed the public release due to technical complexities. Users will soon be able to thoroughly test the update for any potential errors. The enhanced AI promises a more intuitive and efficient user experience, representing a significant evolution for Amazon’s digital assistant platform.
