Amazon has unveiled Alexa+, a new AI-infused voice assistant that gets smarter the more you use it, but there’s a catch—it comes with a $19.99 subscription fee.
At the latest Amazon Devices event in New York City on Wednesday, Amazon revealed the new voice assistant succeeding its original Alexa assistant. Amazon introduced the Alexa+ voice assistant, which forgoes the traditional “Alexa” language in favour of AI features that “read the room.” Amazon’s senior vice-president of devices and services, Panos Panay, said the new voice assistant will be powered by generative AI solutions and will work on “almost every” Alexa device Amazon has delivered.
Panay continued, “Every once in a while, a technology comes around and it changes everything,” concluding with the notion that the new generative AI-equipped Alexa+ is that technology.
During the event, Panay explained that the new voice assistant can order concert tickets, make dinner reservations and even send recipes to other household members. Amazon boasts that Alexa+ can also use cue cards to help a consumer study, organize handwritten documents and recall information from them.
Amazon said, “Alexa+ learns from you, and the more you use it, the more personalized it gets—understanding everything from your favourite entertainment to your family’s dietary preferences, allergies and weekly traditions,” regarding the new AI-infused voice assistant.
Alexa+ appears to learn with the user and become tailored to the individual. Previous Business Insider reports have even suggested that the new technology could eventually be used to hail Uber rides at a moment’s notice.
Variety reports that Amazon will charge a $19.99 monthly subscription fee for consumers to use the service, adding to their monthly expenses outside of Amazon Prime. However, with Amazon Prime, the new voice assistant is included at no additional cost.
While no official release date has been given yet, Amazon’s Alexa+ will roll out early access starting next month, with a full launch coming later in the future.
