Amazon has announced the launch of Alexa Plus (Alexa+), the new version of its digital assistant that arrives widely improved by incorporating functions of generative AI.
The Amazon digital assistant has been the most advanced of its kind, if we take into account the number of voice orders that could resolve that it was much higher than direct competitors such as Apple’s Siri. But the explosion of the current AI with the arrival of the chatgpt has changed the entire market and it was obvious that the electronic commerce giant had to update its assistant. The new generation has been developing internally under the ‘Banyan’ project and in the Amazon Devices 2023 we met the first notes. Finally, we have it here.
Alexa Plus, a new level
Alexa is “Smart than ever”a great evolution of what we so far knew, driven by generative and under a large language model (LLM) Created to measure and specifically optimized for voice interactions. Although it has been created internally by Amazon and based on its ‘Nova’ model, last year’s announcement of a «Strategic collaboration» With Anthropic, it indicates that the new assistant also uses the language models of this firm founded by OpenAI extrabajadores.
“Alexa knows almost all the instruments of your life, your agenda, your smart home, your preferences, the devices you are using, the people with whom you are connected, the entertainment you love and use, many of the applications you use, many of the services you need»Said Panos Panay (a Microsoft veteran who was hired by Amazon as director of devices and services) to define the possibilities and scope of the new assistant.
Panay explained that the use of Alexa had increased 20% in 2024 as other million users accessed the own hardware ecosystem that the company has and that they are sold at a good pace for its low cost. The problem, as the same executive recognized in the presentation, is that Its use could become “frustrating” Before its lack of capacity. Simply, it has been delayed in the face of everything that has come promoted by generative.
Smarter … and useful
Alexa Plus promises to take assistance to a new dimension. For a start, You will not need to activate with the classic ‘Hey, Alexa’ and just mention your name to start it and without having to repeat it for each question. It may respond to multiple indications in sequence, which contrasts with the current iteration, which generally handles only one application at the same time. In practice, it is about achieving a most natural conversation like the one we would have with a human.
Alexa Plus can act as an “agent” when performing actions for users without their direct participation and will have multimodal capacities. For example, the improved voice assistant can answer questions about images captured with ring cameras, photos taken with an echo show, emails, files such as pdf, handwritten notes, calendar, and much more.
Alexa+ is designed to be more conversational and useful in all devices, you can execute complex and more personalized tasks. You can remember user preferences, such as the types of food you like and those that do not, and take them into account when asking for recipes. You can also detect tones and moods. Of course, the intelligent household management The voice assistant can also be improved and you can use, for example, to pass music from one device to another speaker or a television, or jump to a certain scene of a movie that is in Prime Video.
Amazon has associated with several media groups to answer questions about a variety of topics with current information. Other relevant partners of several sectors are Uber to request trips, operating to book a room in a restaurant, Spotify for music, Sonos, Samsung, Xbox, Tidal, Dyson, NASA and “Tens of thousands more”. As an example, there will be an integration with Amazon Fresh to make edible orders and see what is in the cart on your screen.
Alexa Plus will work in almost all compatible devices With Alexa who has launched Amazon so far. And it will not be limited to a screen device such as the Echo Show used in the presentation, a computer or a smartphone. It can also be used via web On Alexa.com and the event made a demonstration where it was seen that the user could write consultations. Amazon is also renewing mobile apps for iOS and Android to include access to the updated assistant.
And the Price of Alexa Plus?
Amazon has been investing large amounts in Alexa for more than a decade and spending has increased to include generative functions. According to the company, the free model is not profitable and hence Alexa Plus will not be free and will cost $ 19.90 per month. Explain that, at least for the moment, it will be included in the Amazon Prime subscription. Hopefully this service does not increase in price as has happened with others that have incorporated functions of AI, Microsoft 365 as an example.
Alexa Plus launch will start next month With its implementation on selected Echo Show devices. From there, it must be deployed in almost all the hardware sold by Amazon and compatible third parties, especially those supported by the mobile application for iOS and Android that will be renewed. The access via web, it seemed quite green yet, but it will be another way to use the assistant.
