Amazon has announced that the latest iteration of its Alexa virtual assistant will incorporate generative AI to enhance personalization and conversational abilities. The company also revealed that this version, known as Alexa+, would require a subscription, though the $20 fee will be waived for Amazon Prime members.
The Introduction of Alexa+
Amazon officials introduced Alexa+ at an event in New York City, according to reports from the Associated Press. The technology, which was unveiled more than a year after the company first hinted at its AI-driven capabilities, leverages “large language models” developed internally and in collaboration with Amazon’s generative AI partner, Anthropic. The system is designed to be “model-agnostic,” allowing it to choose the optimal model depending on the task.
Natural and Personalized Conversations
Amazon representatives stated that generative AI empowers Alexa+ to engage in more natural-sounding conversations and to learn user preferences over time. It is designed to handle more complex requests, such as scheduling an Uber, creating a study plan, or displaying footage from Amazon’s Ring video doorbells.
Launching Next Month
The new features aim to boost user interaction with Alexa in a highly competitive virtual assistant market and to drive sales through the system. The initial “early access” release of Alexa+ is scheduled for March in the United States, and it will initially support English only.
