Amazon has just launched Alexa+, a revamped digital assistant powered by generative AI. This launch follows years of development and aims to provide a more intelligent, personalised, and capable experience.
Panos Panay, Amazon’s devices and services chief, described the upgrade as a “complete re-architecture” of the AI assistant, acknowledging limitations in previous technology.
“An AI chatbot on its own doesn’t get us to our vision of Alexa,” Panay added.
Alexa+ boasts enhanced conversational abilities, personalised responses, and proactive assistance. It can engage in natural interactions, remembering past conversations and adapting to individual preferences. Users can input information like family recipes and dietary needs for further customisation. The assistant proactively offers helpful suggestions, such as earlier commutes due to traffic or sales on desired items.
Powered by large language models (LLMs), Alexa+ can process visual information through device cameras and process various documents, answering related questions and performing tasks like adding events to calendars. It seamlessly integrates with Echo devices, offering improved smart home capabilities, music management, and video navigation. Alexa+ can also browse the internet and complete tasks on Amazon-partnered websites, such as booking repair services.
Moreover, Alexa+ is designed to work seamlessly with Amazon’s ecosystem, including Fire TV, Amazon Music, and Ring. For instance, users can ask Alexa to play music or skip to a specific scene in a movie. Alexa+ can also summarise footage from Ring security cameras.
“She’s your virtual security guard,” Panay stated.
The updated Alexa features a refreshed user interface, including a new “For You” panel on Echo Show devices displaying user-specific updates and smart home controls.
The architecture behind Alexa+ integrates LLMs from Amazon’s Nova models and partner Anthropic, operating on a model-agnostic framework and boosting its ability to process and deliver information.
Alexa+ also introduces features for kids and families, encouraging engagement beyond simple question-answering and storytelling.
While the specific launch date is yet to be announced, Alexa+ is expected to come out later this year. With the launch of Alexa+, Amazon aims to compete with other major players in the AI assistant market.