Amazon Launches Alexa+ AI Assistant to 100,000 Early Users

Amazon has initiated the rollout of Alexa+, its advanced generative AI-powered assistant, to over 100,000 early users in a limited preview. This launch follows the company's initial announcement during its annual fall hardware event in September 2023, where Alexa+ was positioned as a more conversational and context-aware evolution of the original Alexa. The new assistant is powered by Anthropic, the developer of Claude AI, after Amazon's proprietary AI did not meet expectations.

During this early access phase, U.S. customers with Echo Show 8, 10, 15, or 21 devices will be the first to receive Alexa+. Other compatible Echo device owners will be notified via email and on-device alerts as the enhanced assistant becomes available to them. amazon plans to expand early access to more Echo customers over time, with Alexa+ eventually working across all compatible Echo devices, Fire TV, Fire tablets, web browsers, and the Alexa app.

Some first-generation Alexa devices, including the first-generation Echo, Echo Show, and Echo Dots, are not compatible with the upgrade. Alexa+ users can start a conversation on one device and continue it on another, interacting with the assistant through Echo devices or browsers. However, several features, such as ordering from Grubhub, brainstorming gift ideas, or generating stories for children, have been delayed as they do not yet meet Amazon’s standards for public release.

The service will be free for Amazon Prime members, while non-Prime users can access it with a $19.99 monthly subscription. Amazon has included several safety features in Alexa+ to address privacy concerns, such as indicator lights and sounds to signal when the assistant is active, physical controls to disable microphones and cameras on Echo devices, and options to delete stored voice recordings and typed interactions. However, users are currently unable to delete documents they upload to Alexa+.

Ask Aime: "Can Alexa+ predict stock market trends?"

The launch of Alexa+ coincides with a broader race among AI developers, including OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and Meta, to create the next generation of virtual assistants that are more conversational, aware, and capable of handling complex tasks. Amazon has made significant investments in generative AI, including a $4 billion investment in Anthropic in 2023, to integrate this technology into its business and consumer products.