Alexa Gets a Makeover: Your New Digital Companion

Amazon has rolled out a new version of its voice assistant, Alexa. This time, it's infused with generative AI, making it more interactive and personal. The catch? It's not free anymore. Users will have to pay a monthly fee of $19. 99 for the upgraded version, dubbed Alexa+. But there's a twist: Prime members get it for free as part of their subscription perks. The new Alexa+ can do more than just answer questions. It can plan dates, create study plans, and even remember handwritten recipes. It's designed to feel more human-like in conversations. It can also sense the mood of a room, which is a neat trick. Amazon showed off Alexa+ at a media event in New York. The company has sold over 600 million Alexa-enabled devices since its launch in 2014. Alexa+ is built into various products, from smart speakers to Fire TVs and earbuds. The new features are aimed at boosting sales and interactions with these devices. Amazon uses large language models, including some from a startup called Anthropic, to power Alexa+. This allows Alexa+ to choose the best AI model for different tasks. Amazon plans to roll out Alexa+ in phases, starting with users of its newest Echo Show devices. The update will eventually be available internationally and on more devices. Some features are exclusive to products with screens. Older Echo models won't get the upgrade, but users can still use the original Alexa. The company hopes that the subscription fee will help offset the costs of AI development and make its devices more profitable. Amazon isn't the only player in the smart speaker market. It competes with giants like Apple and Google. While Amazon has sold a lot of devices, getting users to shop through Alexa has been a challenge. Many users rely on Alexa for simple tasks like playing music or checking the weather. The new features of Alexa+ might change that. But will users be willing to pay for a voice assistant? Amazon first teased an AI-infused Alexa over a year ago. At the time, it was working on a "speech-to-speech" model that would make Alexa more human-like. The new Alexa+ seems to deliver on that promise. It can exhibit human-like attributes, like laughter and phrases like “uh-huh” during conversations. Users only need to say the wake word once to start a conversation with Alexa+. But sometimes, they might need to say it again if Alexa+ doesn't catch something. The new Alexa+ is a significant upgrade from the original. It's more interactive, personal, and human-like. But will users be willing to pay for it? Only time will tell. The tech giant has high hopes for Alexa+, and it's clear they've put a lot of effort into making it the best it can be. Will it pay off?