Amazon is making Alexa more intelligent, proactive, and personalized with its latest upgrade, Alexa+.
Designed to go beyond simple voice commands, Alexa+ introduces AI-driven enhancements that improve everything from browsing and smart home controls to document processing and interactive storytelling. Here’s what’s new:
AI-Powered Visual Processing & Web Browsing
Alexa+ now understands visual inputs from compatible device cameras, allowing it to answer questions based on what it sees. This extends to web navigation, where Alexa+ can browse the internet and even complete tasks on partner websites, such as booking services or organizing a shopping list with smart suggestions.
Conversational Memory & Smart Commands
Alexa+ is becoming more conversational, capable of remembering user preferences and responding with humor. It can recall details about your favorite foods, past interactions, and personal preferences, making interactions feel more natural and personalized.
More Control Over Music Playback
Alexa+ improves multi-room audio control, allowing users to specify which speaker should play music using simple voice commands. You can even direct sound to a specific side of the room based on speaker placement.
Smart Document Processing
Alexa+ can now process and summarize complex documents, including PDFs, legal agreements, and school schedules. Users can ask Alexa to extract key details, add events to a calendar, or suggest relevant actions based on uploaded files.
AI-Generated Stories & Exploration for Kids
Amazon is expanding Alexa’s kid-friendly features with Explore and Stories, an AI-powered storytelling function. Kids can request customized stories, complete with AI-generated illustrations and dynamic narration.
Alexa+ Cost
Alexa+ is priced at $19.99 per month; however, it is complimentary for Amazon Prime members. The initial launch is set to commence in the upcoming weeks, with additional devices scheduled to receive updates over the subsequent months. Currently, this offering is exclusive to the United States.
With these AI-driven enhancements, Alexa+ is evolving beyond a voice assistant into a fully interactive AI companion, promising a more intuitive, proactive, and engaging experience for users.
