Alexa+ gets smarter and more expensive with new AI

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Amazon launched its Alexa+ digital assistance system in New York on Wednesday. It is based on a language model for generative artificial intelligence (AI) and should therefore be able to understand human speech much better. The new Alexa is as accessible as dialogs with AI chatbots such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini or Perplexity.

In contrast to the previous version, the new Alexa is supposed to understand the context better, respond without repeating the activation word and ask questions independently if something is unclear. It can also act as an "agent" and place orders with delivery and booking services.

Enhanced AI talents

Amazon hopes that this will lower the inhibition threshold for integrating assistants more into everyday life. "Alexa+ is no longer intimidating, Alexa+ is simply useful," said Panos Panay, Senior Vice President for Amazon's Devices and Services, formerly at Microsoft.

For the first time, Alexa's advanced AI talents will be available as a paid subscription, no longer just as a free add-on to speaker hardware. In addition, the new system will not run on all existing devices. The revised Alexa version will initially only be available in the USA from March 2025 as part of a public beta test. A launch in Germany is planned, but Amazon has not yet given a date.

The purposes of the new Alexa remain the same as before. The voice assistant answers questions based on web knowledge, converts verbal commands into control signals for smart home devices and plays content from streaming services on request.

Chat, buy, book

The skills known from the Alexa system, which provide access to internet services, are still available. However, they are now called "Experts". Reservations with OpenTable or bookings with Uber are among them. In New York, Amazon showed, among other things, how this can be integrated into everyday life: For example, by placing grocery orders for planned visits from friends, for which Alexa+ then makes suggestions.

Alexa can also create calendar entries on request and send text messages to family members involved. This could all be done in a fairly natural conversation and was no longer as cumbersome as before.

If you need to repair a washing machine, all you have to do is ask Alexa+ for a handyman. She then searches for one and sends him a request. One of its new "agent" skills is that it independently manages and authenticates contact, access and payment data.

Amazon will also use Alexa+ to integrate its own services more closely. On stage, Panos Panay showed how Alexa transferred a soundtrack song from Amazon Music from Echo speakers to a Fire TV television and called up the appropriate scene in a movie.

AI searches documents and invents stories

You can also have Alexa search through video footage from the Ring cameras belonging to the company, such as "whether the dog has been walked in the past few days". Alexa+ then searched for snippets showing a family member taking the dog for a walk.

Another new function is to upload documents to Alexa+ and have them searched. For example, installation requirements can be searched from an installation description for solar panels. Instead of leafing through the family recipe book herself, Alexa+ knew whether a certain ingredient belonged in a dish and in what quantity.

Alexa+ plus implements a classic generative AI function with "Gen AI Stories". Children can invent stories together with Alexa and contribute their own preferences and wishes in dialog.

AI models do not make a perfect Alexa

Instead of rigid rules, the new system is based on generative AI, which is based on several language models, explained Daniel Rausch, Vice President for Alexa and Echo at Amazon. The models include the in-house variant called Amazon Nova and the "Claude" language model from AI company Anthropic. Amazon has a stake in it. Alexa+ will decide which model to use depending on the context, says Rausch.

Comprehension and operating problems that have plagued Alexa's original version since its launch in 2014 should therefore be a thing of the past with the new version's capabilities. But even in the demo in New York, not everything worked straight away. Amazon employees had to repeat questions from time to time because Alexa+ did not respond. She also misunderstood some things and had to be corrected. Nevertheless, this was achieved on stage by simply requesting changes. The entire request did not have to be repeated.

Paid subscription, perhaps a new purchase

You can interact with the upgraded Alexa+ on the same device categories as before, i.e. on Amazon's smart speakers and smart displays. For the time being, only a small group of users can try out Alexa's new talents. Amazon is rolling out Alexa+ as early access in the USA from March. Amazon wants to activate the offer in waves.

For the first time, voice control is not free. The subscription will cost 19.99 US dollars. Prices of between 5 and 10 dollars had previously been speculated. Those who have already subscribed to Prime do not have to pay anything extra.

A new hardware purchase may also be necessary. The assistance system is initially available on Echo devices of the type Echo Show 8, 10, 15, and 21, with others to follow. Amazon did not specify a date. According to Panos Panay, Alexa+ will be compatible with "almost all" Echo devices that Amazon has released to date. He did not elaborate on the exceptions.

Note: Amazon invited the author to the event in New York and covered the travel costs.

(vbr)