Amazon is finally launching the long-awaited generative AI version of Alexa — Alexa Plus — that, if all goes well, will take away much of the friction that comes with talking to a speaker to control your smart home or getting info on the fly. The Verge reported.
Some of the new abilities coming to Alexa Plus include the ability to do things for you — you’ll be able to ask it to order groceries for you or send event invites to friends. Amazon says it will also be able to memorize personal details like your diet and movie preferences.
Alexa Plus is $19.99 per month on its own or free for Amazon Prime members — a better deal, considering Prime costs just $14.99 per month or $139 per year. That comes with access to the Alexa website, where the company created a new Alexa app to go with the new assistant.
Amazon posted: Introducing Alexa+, our next generation assistant, powered by generative AI. Alexa+ helps you stay organized during busy days, provides detailed answers tailored to your needs, and handles everything from project planning to solving daily challenges — all through natural conversation. Here are a few core aspects of Alexa+:
Conversational: Alexa+ engages in natural, flowing conversations that feel genuine. It understands context and meaning, creating seamless interactions with no precise “Alexa” language.
Personalized: Alexa+ learns from you and the more you use it, the more personalized it gets — understanding everything from your favorite entertainment to your family’s dietary preferences, allergies, and weekly traditions.
Gets things done: Alexa+ acts on your behalf, handling everything from date planning and gift shopping to travel arrangements and study help. From simple tax to complex projects, it provides assistance you can trust.
Even Smarter: Alexa+ combines vast knowledge with an approachable personality, making generative AI feel natural and accessible. Helpful intelligence ready whenever and wherever you need it.
Gizmodo reported: We’ve been waiting a long time to see what Amazon is doing with its digital assistant. Alexa+ got all the fanfare today at an Amazon event. SVP of devices and services Panos Panay, formerly of Microsoft, debuted the next-generation edition of the shopping giant’s AI bot. Amazon hopes you will prefer Alexa+ over the other digital assistants in your home.
Alexa+ promises all sorts of new interactions, many of which might seem like repeat offerings if you’ve already been living with this stuff in your home. After mentioning the wake word, you can converse with Alexa+ as you would with a friend, asking about the weather and then going into a conversation about what’s on the docket for the day.