HOUSEHOLDS with Amazon Alexa devices have been warned that their favourite voice features may be unavailable after a new update.
The latest update is set to bring Alexa Plus – Amazon’s new-and-improved AI voice assistant – into the fold.
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It is supposed to be a super-smart version of Alexa, powered by generative AI.
That means Alexa should be able to understand and respond to natural language in a conversational way.
It will also be able to remember your likes and dislikes and respond to emotion in your voice.
For example, you will be able to say things like, “Alexa, I’m cold, and it’s too dark in here,” and it should know to turn on the lights and raise the heat.
However, consumers have been told to stick with the old Alexa if they have any favourite skills they use.
This is because not all original Alexa skills are being ported over to Alexa Plus.
Alexa Plus will be available on an Echo Show 8, 10, 15, or 21 smart display, Fire TV devices, Fire tablets, on the web at Alexa.com, and in the Alexa app.
A handful of early models, like the first-gen Echo Dot, Echo, and Echo Show, won’t receive the upgrade.
Similarly, it won’t work on devices with built-in Alexa, such as Sonos speakers or the Ecobee smart thermostat at launch.
Although it may come to those gadgets in the future.
Owners of non-Alexa Plus compatible devices will be able to continue using the original Alexa.
Right now, Alexa Plus is free to use – but it is only available in the US so far.
It will eventually fall behind a paywall and require a $19.99 monthly subscription or an Amazon Prime membership.
Amazon’s focus is now on the new and improved Alexa, the company’s head of devices and services, Panos Panas, told The Verge.
The original Alexa will continue to be updated, but it is now all hands on deck to build up Alexa Plus.
What is Alexa?
If you’ve never heard of Alexa, here’s what you need to know…
- Alexa is an “intelligent” personal assistant built by Amazon.
- You can find her on several different devices, including Amazon’s Echo speakers.
- Alexa responds to voice commands, and can talk back to you.
- She can perform thousands of different tasks, including telling you about the news or weather.
- But she can do more complex things too, like ordering a pizza or arranging an Uber taxi pick-up.
- To activate Alexa, you need to say “Alexa” to an Amazon Echo speaker.
- Because she’s powered by artificial intelligence, Alexa is constantly getting smarter.
- Alexa will also get more used to your voice, and better understand what you want her to do over time.
