Amazon Echo Devices with Alexa+ Unveiled - New AI Features

Amazon Launches New Echo Devices Powered by Alexa+

During its annual hardware showcase, Amazon unveiled a fresh range of Echo devices. These are specifically engineered to function with its advanced AI assistant, Alexa+, which has already been accessible to a significant user base through an early access initiative.

New Device Lineup

To demonstrate the enhanced capabilities of the AI, Amazon is releasing four new Echo devices. These feature upgraded processing power and increased memory: the Echo Dot Max, Echo Studio, Echo Show 8, and Echo Show 11.

Alexa+ Integrations

Central to these devices are the Alexa+ integrations. These allow the speakers to respond to a wider array of inquiries than previous generations.

The system now supports natural language conversations and more intricate questions, with further add-ons and functionalities planned for the near future.

Alexa+ Store and Subscription Management

An Alexa+ Store is forthcoming, providing users access to services from prominent brands. These include Fandango, GrubHub, Lyft, Priceline, Taskrabbit, Thumbtack, and Yahoo Sports.

The devices will also facilitate the management of both new and existing subscriptions to Amazon’s services, such as Amazon Music, Amazon Kids+, and Alexa Emergency Assist, enabling personalized Alexa experiences.

New Amazon Silicon

The newly launched Echo devices are powered by Amazon’s custom-designed silicon chips, the AZ3 and AZ3 Pro. These chips incorporate an AI Accelerator, optimized for running AI models at the edge.

AZ3 and AZ3 Pro Chipsets

The AZ3 chip enhances conversation detection on the Echo Dot. This allows users to interact with the device from any location within a room, while effectively minimizing background noise.

Amazon asserts that the chip also improves wake word detection by over 50%.

The AZ3 Pro, utilized in the Studio, Show 8, and 11, adds support for advanced language models and vision transformers.

Ominisense and Ambient AI

Devices equipped with the AZ3 Pro also include Ominisense, a bespoke sensor platform for ambient AI. This utilizes the 13-megapixel camera on new Echo Show devices, alongside audio, ultrasound, Wi-Fi radar, an accelerometer, and Wi-Fi channel state information (CSI).

This feature empowers Alexa to respond to events occurring within the home, such as delivering reminders when a specific individual enters a room or alerting users to an open garage door.

Device Specifications and Pricing

The new Echo Dot Max, priced at $99.99, delivers nearly three times the bass for enhanced audio quality. It features a two-way speaker system with a woofer for deep bass and a custom tweeter for high frequencies.

The $219.99 Echo Studio boasts a redesigned spherical form factor, making it 40% smaller than its predecessor.

It also incorporates a high-excursion woofer, spatial audio, Dolby Atmos, and an upgraded light ring for improved visual feedback regarding Alexa’s operations.

Consumers can connect up to five Echo Studio or Echo Dot Max devices with compatible Fire TV sticks to create an immersive home sound system. Amazon intends to offer these products in Alexa Home Theater bundles.

Smart Displays: Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11

Two new smart displays have also been introduced: the Echo Show 8 ($179.99) and the Echo Show 11 ($219.99). Both feature a new design, enhanced picture quality, a 13-megapixel camera, a larger screen area, and new front-facing stereo speakers with a custom woofer.

These displays are also powered by Alexa+ features.

Alexa+ Home and Smart Home Integration

The AI assistant will operate a new smart home experience called Alexa+ Home. This integrates event summaries from Ring camera feeds and a smart home hub supporting Matter, Thread, and Zigbee.

Entertainment and Convenience Features

As Alexa devices with screens, these displays excel at accessing entertainment, managing home organization and family activities, and streamlining household shopping. The latter integrates with Amazon, Whole Foods, and Amazon Fresh for easier reordering and delivery tracking.

Health and Wellness Integration

Amazon is collaborating with Oura, a smart ring manufacturer, to deliver personalized health and wellness recommendations to Alexa devices. This could include workout reminders or suggestions for optimizing sleep schedules.

Support for devices from Withings and Wyze is planned for future releases.