Let's Talk About the Spankin' New Alexa+
Alexa+ now boasts advanced generative artificial intelligence capabilities.
Amazon's AI assistant, Alexa, has had a facelift! Now, it's more chatty, intelligent, and tailored to your needs, thanks to generative AI technology. Meet Alexa+, the ultimate companion to assist you with daily tasks.
Alexa+ isn't your ordinary AI assistant. It's been upgraded with a slew of new features that offer enhanced automation, music, home management, and delivery options. This tech titan seamlessly connects with various third-party platforms, making your life effortlessly convenient.
So, what can Alexa+ do for you? For starters, it can manage your smart home devices, like Phillips Hue and Roborock, reserve tables through OpenTable and Vagaro, order food from Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market, and even send reminders for ticket sales on Ticketmaster.
But that's not all! You can share documents, emails, photos, and messages with Alexa+, and it'll remember, summarize, or even take action on your behalf. Yes, you read that right! Alexa+ boasts "agentic capabilities," which essentially means it can navigate the internet and execute tasks without your constant supervision.
Worried about the cost? Fret not! Alexa+ is only $19.99 per month. But, if you're an Amazon Prime member, you can enjoy this nifty tool for free as a Prime benefit. Soon, Alexa+ will be available to fire up on Echo Show 8, 10, 15, and 21 devices. And guess what? You can access Alexa+ through a new mobile app on the App Store and Google Play Store and a browser-based experience at Alexa.com.
In a LinkedIn post, Andy Jassy, CEO of Amazon, proudly declared, "Across Amazon, we're harnessing the transformative power of GenAI to reimagine the experiences we offer customers, and Alexa+ is the latest example."
With tech giants like Amazon jumping into the generative AI deep end, it's no wonder they're making significant investments in this groundbreaking technology. Last year, Amazon even launched AI shopping tool Rufus, also powered by generative AI on its mobile app and website. In fact, Jassy hinted that Amazon plans to deepen its relationship with and further invest in generative AI.
Just a quick heads-up, back in 2023, Amazon let go of several hundred positions in its Alexa unit in both the U.S. and Canada.
Sources:
- Amazon's Press Release on Alexa+
- The Verge's Article on Alexa+
- CNET's Article on Alexa+
While I can't claim to have personally tested Alexa+, I certainly hope it lives up to its promising features! Now, let's see if I can rearrange my life with this AI chum! Cheers! 🥂🤖✌️🚀
- Alexa+, the enhanced AI assistant from Amazon, utilizes generative AI technology to offer more intelligent and tailored assistance, facilitating tasks such as music control, home management, and delivery options.
- With the integration of Alexa+ into Echo Show devices and a new mobile app available on the App Store and Google Play Store, users can subscribe for $19.99 per month, or access it for free as an Amazon Prime benefit.
- In a strategic move, Amazon has been investing heavily in generative AI, launching initiatives like the AI shopping tool Rufus in 2022, and hinting at further investments in the future.
- The upgraded Alexa+ interface can connect with several third-party platforms, enabling features like reserving tables, ordering food, sending reminders, and managing smart home devices.
- Although Alexa+ seemed promising, Amazon had to let go of several hundred positions in its Alexa unit back in 2023, raising some concerns about its future development.
