Amazon has unveiled a successor to the AI service that runs on the company’s long running range of Echo gadgets, Fire TVs and Ring doorbells.
Powered by generative AI, the new Alexa is smart, faster and more aware. Alexa+ is powered by Anthropic’s AI, Amazon Nova generative AI and Annapurna Labs’ Trainium 2 silicon. Alexa+ will be free to Amazon Prime members, or $19.99. It arrives in preview mode during March for US customers with a global rollout to follow.
You can catch up on the Amazon event with Panos Panay here. One of the key points made was, “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. This made the technology much more accessible, so people can see the power and magic of what generative AI can do,” Amazon boss Andy Jassy said.
Amazon Alexa is back
The AI vastly improves on the original Alexa’s abilities using generative AI and improved inference for greater conversation and comprehension skills. Alexa+ can now do much more for its owners. That includes performing practical tasks like sending event invites to friends, ordering complex grocery shops based on your dietary needs, and acting as more of an entertainment buddy for recommendations.
Alexa Plus is compatible with most existing Amazon hardware, while a new app will appear across most TV and touchscreen devices. Other features for a smoother customer experience include the ability to carry on conversations over time, and it can check your smart home gadgets to see who’s home, if someone took the dog for a walk an other clever tricks.
As a more rounded character, Alexa is better to talk to. And for those millions of devices left switched off around homes, creates a good chance to restart the consumer smart home experience.
For fun, check our 2020 article about what Alexa would be like in 2025, and see how close we got to reality.