Amazon has announced the introduction of Alexa+, a new version of its virtual assistant powered by generative artificial intelligence. Alexa+ is designed to be more conversational, smarter, and personalized, offering a range of capabilities to assist users with various tasks. This new iteration of Alexa offers enhanced interaction, allowing for more natural and expansive conversations. Users can speak in incomplete thoughts or use colloquial expressions, and Alexa+ is equipped to understand and respond appropriately, providing a user-friendly experience akin to interacting with a knowledgeable assistant.
The foundation of Alexa+ is built on sophisticated large language models available through Amazon Bedrock. These models enable Alexa+ to coordinate across numerous services and devices. This includes the ability to manage smart home products, make reservations, explore music discographies, and order groceries. Alexa+ can also perform tasks such as sending alerts or reminders about events like ticket sales. Additionally, Alexa+ features a new capability that allows it to navigate the internet autonomously to complete tasks, such as arranging repairs through service providers, without user intervention.
Alexa+ offers a high level of personalization, remembering user preferences and information such as purchase history, media consumption, and personal data like important dates and dietary preferences. This personalized approach enhances the user experience, allowing Alexa+ to make tailored suggestions and take specific actions based on individual needs.
In terms of privacy and security, Alexa+ has been developed with these considerations in mind. User interactions and settings are centralized in the Alexa Privacy dashboard, providing transparency and control. Built on the secure infrastructure of AWS, Alexa+ aims to protect user data throughout its interactions.
Alexa+ is available for $19.99 per month, it is also offered at no additional cost to Amazon Prime members. This adds to the benefits of Prime membership, which includes fast delivery, exclusive deals, and access to entertainment services. Alexa+ will begin its rollout in the United States in the coming weeks, starting with an early access period prioritized for certain Echo device owners.
For more information about Alexa+, check out Amazon’s press release here.
