Amazon has introduced Alexa+, an AI-powered upgrade to its voice assistant, promising more intelligence, personalisation, and seamless integration with smart home devices. The new service is free for Amazon Prime members but comes with a $19.99 monthly subscription for non-members. However, Indian users eager to try Alexa+ may be disappointed, as Amazon has not yet announced availability in the country.
Alexa+ Brings AI To Everyday Tasks
Alexa+ is designed to be more conversational and intuitive, thanks to generative AI. Amazon claims it can help users with tasks such as making reservations, summarising complex topics, organising schedules, and even discovering new music or artists.
The AI-driven assistant will also integrate with various third-party services, including OpenTable for dining reservations, Ticketmaster for event alerts, and Uber Eats for food delivery.
“Alexa+ understands what you mean, and responds like a trusted assistant,” Amazon stated. The company has built the service on its large language models (LLMs) through Amazon Bedrock, enabling the assistant to take action across thousands of services and devices.
Enhanced Smart Home Capabilities
With over 600 million Alexa-enabled devices in use, Alexa+ aims to make smart homes even more efficient. The assistant can control devices from brands like Philips Hue and Roborock, move music across speakers, and even alert users via Ring security cameras when someone approaches their home.
It also offers proactive assistance, such as suggesting an early commute if traffic is heavy or notifying users when a desired product is on sale.
Alexa+ Subscription Price
While Alexa+ is free for Prime members, others will have to pay $19.99 per month for access. The AI assistant will be available through Echo devices, a new mobile app, and a browser-based experience.
Amazon has announced that Alexa+ will roll out in the US in the coming weeks. No word yet on when other countries, including India will get it, but that can be expected in the coming weeks.
