Tired of Alexa’s constant chatter? Wish Amazon’s voice assistant would just get to the point without all the extra stuff? Maybe I’m just speaking for myself? Anyway, relief is finally here.
Amazon is rolling out a new option to keep Alexa’s responses blessedly perfunctory in a new “Brief” mode for Alexa+, along with options for “Chill” and “Sweet” conversation styles that adjust the AI assistant’s tone and delivery across Alexa+ devices.
Ask Alexa how it’s going in Brief mode, for example, and the response might be a curt “All systems operational.” Switch to Chill and it’s a zen “all systems are in harmony.” Go with Sweet and you’ll get something like an exuberant “radiating pure joy!” (Responses differ each time.)
It’s a first for the voice assistant, available now for Alexa+ users. Users can switch by saying “Alexa, change your personality style” or through the Alexa app under device settings. Personality styles can also be paired with any of Alexa’s eight voice options, which include different genders and regional dialects.
Alexa’s default personality also remains an option, and can be restored at any time.
Amazon has previously offered voice customization for Alexa, including celebrity add-ons like Samuel L. Jackson and Melissa McCarthy, but those were paid extras that altered phrasing on a limited set of responses rather than system-wide personality adjustments.
The new option is part of Amazon’s broader Alexa+ overhaul, which has made the voice assistant more conversational, with the ability to take actions such as ordering takeout and booking dinner reservations. The company made the AI-powered upgrade available to all U.S. customers earlier this month, nearly a year after it was unveiled.
The personality feature reflects a trend in consumer AI. For example, ChatGPT lets users customize its tone and behavior through custom instructions, and Google’s Gemini offers different response styles. Microsoft has been testing a “Personality Studio” for Copilot and introduced a “Real Talk” mode that mirrors the user’s conversational style.
