Alexa in Amazon Music: Voice Control & More

Amazon Launches Alexa+ for Enhanced Music Discovery

Amazon revealed on Tuesday the arrival of Alexa+, its advanced AI-powered assistant. This upgrade is being integrated directly into the Amazon Music app for both iOS and Android devices.

Availability and Access

Currently, the feature is accessible to all subscribers of Amazon Music. However, access is limited to users participating in the Alexa+ Early Access program. To begin using Alexa+, simply tap the “a” icon located in the bottom right corner of the app and initiate a voice query using your device’s microphone.

A Conversational Shift in Music Exploration

The introduction of Alexa+ to Amazon Music is intended to foster a more natural and interactive experience when discovering new music. Unlike previous iterations of Alexa, which primarily responded to direct commands, Alexa+ is engineered to participate in fluid, conversational exchanges.

Users are now empowered to pose detailed and nuanced questions. This includes inquiries about an artist’s creative inspirations or the underlying themes within a song’s lyrics. Furthermore, the assistant can assist in identifying a song based on fragmented lyrical recall or its appearance in a film.

Personalized Playlists and Specific Requests

Alexa+ also excels at crafting customized playlists based on highly specific criteria. For example, users can request “a playlist of 2010s hits that energize me, beginning with a track by Nicki Minaj,” as suggested by the company.

Additional examples provided by Amazon demonstrate the assistant’s capabilities. These include requests like: “Suggest new music that will impress my 13-year-old daughter without appearing overly eager,” and “What song is featured during the opening sequence of ‘The Sopranos’?”

Beyond Music: A Consumer-Focused AI Agent

Alexa+ was initially unveiled in February during Amazon’s hardware event. It is being positioned as one of the first AI agents designed for direct consumer use. This assistant is capable of autonomously executing tasks on a user’s behalf, such as securing restaurant bookings and placing grocery orders.

Early Adoption and User Engagement

Although still in its early phases and not yet broadly available, Alexa+ has already been deployed to over one million users.

Amazon reports that Amazon Music listeners utilizing the feature are exploring a significantly greater number of songs – three times more – compared to those using the original assistant. Additionally, users seeking recommendations are listening to nearly 70% more music overall.

Competitive Landscape and AI Investment

This launch arrives following Spotify’s recent integration of ChatGPT. This suggests a strategic response by Amazon to challenge the leading music streaming service and highlight its own advancements in AI technology. Amazon Music has already incorporated several AI-driven features, including weekly AI-generated playlists, AI-enhanced search functionality, and the “Explore” section, which provides deeper insights into artists.