Meet Alexa+! Amazon introduces a more personalised, autonomous and smarter AI assistant

Amazon has officially introduced Alexa+, the artificial intelligence (AI)-powered version of its voice assistant, marking a significant upgrade in its capabilities. The new voice assistant, announced on Wednesday, boasts advanced contextual understanding, improved smart home control, and a highly personalised experience tailored to individual users’ behaviour. Additionally, Alexa+ features agentic capabilities, enabling it to complete tasks on the internet without direct user supervision.

A Smarter, More Conversational Alexa

Panos Panay, Amazon’s Senior Vice President of Devices & Services, shared the announcement in a newsroom post. The AI-powered assistant is designed to be “more conversational, smarter, and personalised,” Panay stated.

Alexa+ will function as a standalone service but will also be included with Amazon Prime at no additional cost. For those without a Prime membership, the service will likely be available for $19.99 (approximately £15.70) per month.

Enhanced AI Capabilities

Unlike its predecessors, Alexa+ utilises a model-agnostic system. While its core framework is built on Amazon’s Nova model, it can also integrate third-party AI models through Amazon Bedrock, including those developed by Anthropic. This enhancement enables the assistant to select the most suitable AI model for a given task, improving efficiency and responsiveness.

The AI-driven assistant can now complete a wide range of complex tasks, such as making reservations, setting appointments, and managing smart home devices with increased precision. Furthermore, it can find and play music from services including Amazon Music, Spotify, and Apple Music, even when users provide only vague descriptions.

Automated Online Task Execution

One of the standout features of Alexa+ is its ability to execute tasks independently on the internet. For instance, if a user needs their oven repaired, they can simply ask Alexa+, which will search online, identify suitable service providers, verify credentials, arrange an appointment, and relay the details to the user—all without requiring further intervention.

Greater Personalisation and Smart Home Integration

Personalisation has been significantly improved in Alexa+. The voice assistant can access users’ interactions across Amazon services, recognising preferred shipping addresses, payment details, and frequently watched content. Users can also instruct Alexa+ to remember specific details such as important dates and dietary preferences.

Additionally, the upgraded assistant enhances smart home management. It can proactively alert users when a package is delivered, detect when someone visits their home, and execute scheduled commands with greater accuracy.

Amazon is also launching a new Android and iOS app, as well as a dedicated website for Alexa+. These additions will allow users to continue conversations across multiple platforms, whether they begin on a smart speaker, smartphone, or web browser.

Gradual Rollout and Availability

Amazon will begin rolling out Alexa+ in the coming weeks, initially offering it in the United States via an early access programme. The first devices to support the AI-powered assistant include the Echo Show 8, 10, 15, and 21, with wider availability planned for additional devices in the near future.