Alexa+ Now Available to Over 1 Million Users - Powered by Gen-AI

Alexa+ Gains Momentum with Over a Million Users

Invitations to access Amazon’s enhanced digital assistant, Alexa+, which is powered by generative AI, are being distributed consistently. Amazon confirmed to TechCrunch on Monday that the service, initially unveiled in February, has now reached over one million users.

Controlled Rollout and Early Access

Currently, Alexa+ isn’t available to the general public. Amazon is systematically processing its waitlist, extending invitations to customers who initially registered for testing when the service became accessible.

Throughout recent weeks, numerous individuals have shared their receipt of an Alexa+ invitation on various social media platforms. This service promises more intuitive and customized interactions, improved smart home integration, and broadened functionality through the application of AI.

Pricing Structure

During the Early Access phase, Alexa+ is offered at no cost. Subsequently, it will be provided without charge to Amazon Prime members.

Users who do not have a Prime membership will be able to access the service for $19.99 per month following its official public launch.

Growth and Expansion

Earlier this year, Amazon indicated that invitations to participate in the new system would be issued in stages over the coming months. As of May 2024, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy reported that Alexa+ had reached over 100,000 users, representing a small percentage of the 600 million Alexa devices sold.

This figure has increased substantially in the intervening weeks.

A Strategic Move for Amazon

Alexa+ signifies a substantial effort by Amazon to develop a generative AI-driven experience for consumers that can ultimately be monetized.

While Amazon pioneered the market for voice-based, smart home-connected assistants with its Alexa-enabled Echo devices, it struggled to translate this success into a profitable business venture.

In recent years, Alexa’s prominence has diminished as generative AI services, such as ChatGPT, have gained traction. Compared to these modern AI systems, Alexa began to appear cumbersome, limited, and less powerful.

Enhanced Capabilities of Alexa+

Alexa+ aims to introduce new capabilities to the digital assistant. The service enables users to converse with the assistant using more natural language, allowing for flexible phrasing of requests.

For example, a user could simply state, “It’s too cold in here,” and Alexa will adjust a connected smart thermostat accordingly.

Creating routines will also become easier, along with searching through Ring camera footage, interrupting or changing the direction of conversations, and more.

Personalized User Experience

The experience is also designed to be more personalized, remembering user preferences and habits, including favorite songs, recipes, and other individual choices.

Generative AI Features

Leveraging its generative AI component, Alexa can now perform tasks such as summarizing lengthy emails, crafting original bedtime stories, generating quizzes from study materials, creating travel plans, providing summaries of smart home activity, and responding to questions in a manner similar to an AI chatbot.

Furthermore, the assistant can facilitate actions like purchasing concert tickets, making dinner reservations, and alerting users when desired items go on sale.

Initial partners for this feature include OpenTable, Ticketmaster, Uber Eats, Tripadvisor, Grubhub, Yelp, Priceline, Viator, Thumbtack, Atom, Fodor’s, and others.

Device Compatibility and Future Expansion

During the early access period, Alexa+ is available on Echo Show 8, 10, 15, and 21 devices within the U.S. Amazon plans to extend availability to a wider range of Echo devices, Fire TV users, and Fire tablet users over time.

User Feedback and Ongoing Development

Users invited to test the product have reported varying experiences. Some have praised the service as more advanced than Siri, while others have noted that it still requires refinement. (Some early reviews echo this sentiment.)

It is important to note that Alexa+ has not yet been fully launched, but is nearing completion. Amazon states that approximately 90% of the previously announced features have been implemented.