What is Alexa+? Amazon's new assistant is powered by generative artificial intelligence.
An excellent example of an artificial intelligence that could transform your life at home.
Alexa+, powered by generative artificial intelligence, represents a transformation of Amazon's successful voice assistant. This new format not only answers questions and performs tasks but also remembers personal information and takes context into account, allowing users to interact more naturally. As a result, it offers a more personalized experience that generates better outcomes and adapts to user behavior to make more relevant suggestions.
Since its launch in November 2014, when it debuted alongside Amazon's first Echo device, Alexa has enabled users to perform various tasks, from checking the weather to obtaining information from reliable sources. Activated simply by saying "Alexa," it has established itself as a popular tool for playing music and podcasts, thanks to a wide variety of skills, many of which are developed by third parties.
Alexa+ takes the assistant to a new level by using models developed by Anthropic, which is also responsible for Claude and Amazon's generative model, Nova. This advancement allows for more conversational communication, enhancing the understanding of requests. Additionally, Alexa+ can track user activities, from purchases to content preferences, enabling it to anticipate needs and desires.
The operation of Alexa+ is similar to that of its predecessor, allowing activities such as asking questions, playing music from platforms like Amazon Music, Spotify, or Apple Music, and managing smart home devices. However, it stands out due to its better understanding of requests. Users can provide personal information, share preferences, and important details such as birthdays, which helps Alexa+ offer more appropriate answers and suggestions.
Despite its advanced capabilities, Alexa+ focuses on organizing and managing information, being useful for suggesting recipes and managing calendars. However, it is not optimized for work-related tasks such as generating reports or writing code, and its functionality depends on an internet connection.
In terms of pricing, Alexa+ costs $19.99, and since it is currently only available in the United States, a Prime subscription is recommended at $14.99 per month, which offers the Alexa+ service at no additional cost. Initially, early access is restricted to Echo Show 8, 10, 15, and 21 devices, but it is expected to be available on all Alexa devices except for some older versions.
A comprehensive review of Alexa+ has not yet been conducted, but an initial demonstration has showcased its potential, highlighting its personality and ability to make humorous comments, which can differentiate it from its competitors. For those who own an Echo device and have an Amazon Prime subscription, Alexa+ can be highly beneficial, especially for those looking for an assistant that learns their habits and provides personalized responses. However, it may not be the right choice for those who prefer not to share personal information or seek a more task-oriented virtual assistant.