Amazon is making a bold move in the world of smart home technology with the launch of Alexa Plus, a new generative AI version of its popular voice assistant. Designed to offer a more fluid and intuitive experience, Alexa Plus aims to reduce the friction often associated with voice-activated technology by delivering smarter, more context-aware interactions.
Unlike its predecessor, Alexa Plus can perform more complex tasks, such as ordering groceries, sending event invitations, and even analyzing documents. The assistant can remember personal details like dietary preferences and favorite movies, enhancing its ability to provide tailored responses and suggestions.
At $19.99 per month, Alexa Plus is free for Amazon Prime members, adding significant value to the Prime subscription, which costs $14.99 monthly or $139 annually. The new assistant will work on most existing Alexa devices, starting with the Echo Show lineup, and includes a revamped Alexa app and website for managing “longform work.”
One of the standout features of Alexa Plus is its ability to carry on conversations with natural language, allowing users to interact with the assistant without repeatedly using the wake word. Its advanced vision capabilities enable tasks like analyzing images and taking photos, and the system integrates with services like Yelp to provide local business information and make restaurant reservations.
Smart home enthusiasts will find even more to like, as Alexa Plus not only controls devices like cameras and lights but can also create custom routines automatically. Its music capabilities have also been enhanced, with smarter song identification and more advanced media controls.
Amazon’s new assistant features a redesigned interface on Echo devices with displays, offering customizable widgets and a dynamic “Alexicons” system to provide visual cues during interactions. The system is powered by Amazon’s own Nova model along with contributions from companies like Anthropic, allowing Alexa Plus to choose the best model for any given task.
In addition to everyday tasks, Alexa Plus can analyze financial markets, provide sports updates, and even generate AI art and songs through a partnership with Suno. The assistant taps into a broad range of data sources, including The Associated Press, Reuters, Politico, and The Washington Post, to offer up-to-date information on topics ranging from news to event ticket availability.
With the introduction of Alexa Plus, Amazon is positioning itself against competitors like Google’s Gemini, Apple’s upgraded Siri, and OpenAI’s ChatGPT. However, its integration with smart home devices could give it a significant edge in bringing AI-powered assistance directly into consumers’ homes. Early access for Alexa Plus will begin rolling out next month, offering a glimpse into what Amazon hopes will be the future of smart home technology.
