Amazon is set to roll out Alexa+, a next-generation update to its popular voice assistant powered by generative AI, with early access scheduled to begin in March.
The new service, which will coexist with the current Alexa and be offered for $20 a month (free for Prime members), promises enhanced conversational capabilities, improved contextual understanding, and the ability to summarize complex topics and offer personalized suggestions.
During a recent presentation, Daniel Rausch, vice president of Alexa and Fire TV, outlined how Alexa+ will distinguish itself through deeper integration with third-party services and broader online resources. “Alexa+ isn’t just about answering your questions; it’s about actively interacting with the services you use,” Rausch explained. He detailed three primary integration methods:
Existing App Integrations: Alexa+ already works with tens of thousands of services, including partners such as Uber, Sonos, Samsung, and Xbox, ensuring that many popular apps are readily accessible through voice commands.
Web Navigation Capabilities: For services without dedicated apps or APIs, Alexa+ can navigate websites on behalf of users. In a live demonstration, Rausch showed the assistant accessing the Thumbtack website to hire a professional for oven repairs, streamlining tasks that would otherwise require manual browsing.
Interaction with AI Agents: Alexa+ will also be able to collaborate with AI agents on other sites, allowing users to interact with a single, unified assistant rather than multiple chatbots. One example highlighted involved generating a country-style song through an AI music generator.
Rausch emphasized that upgrading to Alexa+ will be seamless, with no need for additional sign-ins or complex setups. “Customers love Alexa because it takes away the complexity,” he said. “We would never take that away. Whether it’s setting up connected devices or adding new services, Alexa+ is designed to make the process even simpler.”
Addressing potential concerns about the reliability of generative AI, Rausch noted that Alexa+ employs a combination of large language models, Amazon’s knowledge graphs, and trusted online sources. “LLMs are at the foundation, but they’re not the only thing answering the question,” he remarked, adding that the assistant is built to minimize errors and ground its responses in verifiable information.
While the enhancements showcased in controlled demos are promising, industry observers note that real-world performance remains to be seen. If Alexa+ can deliver on its promise of seamless integration with both established apps and a wider range of online services, it could reinforce Amazon’s position in the competitive consumer AI space against rivals like Google, Apple, and OpenAI.
For now, early access to Alexa+ is anticipated in March, with users and developers keenly awaiting how these advanced features will perform in everyday scenarios.
Amazon says it never planned to display Trump-era tariffs on product pages, disputing a report that drew a sharp response from the White House.
Amazon launched the first 27 satellites for its Kuiper broadband internet project on Monday, marking the start of its long-delayed effort to rival SpaceX’s Starlink and provide global internet coverage from space.
Munduruku activists end blockade of the Trans-Amazonian Highway after securing a meeting with a Supreme Court justice, allowing the resumption of grain shipments worth millions.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced the development of a new quantum computing chip, dubbed Ocelot, which it believes could shave up to five years off its timeline for building a commercially viable quantum computer.
Amazon removes diversity references from annual report, shifting DEI focus to "proven outcomes". Meta, Google and Disney are among those rolling back DEI initiatives and programs.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced on May 16 that his country has started the process of joining the New Development Bank of BRICS.
Ministers in Libya’s Government of National Unity (GNU) are resigning one by one amid mounting protests in Tripoli, Libya Press agency reports
The US Supreme Court on Friday paused President Donald Trump’s attempt to carry out deportations using the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, siding with a group of Venezuelan immigrants in Texas who argued they were at risk of sudden removal under the rarely used wartime law.
Two North Korean fishermen picked up by South Korean patrols in March remain stranded in the South as Pyongyang refuses to respond to requests for their return.
The US has lost its final AAA credit rating after Moody’s downgraded the country to Aa1, citing growing deficits and mounting debt as risks to long-term fiscal health.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on May 15, with discussions reportedly focusing on upcoming peace talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegates in Istanbul.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war in Gaza will not stop until Hamas is destroyed, following the release of US-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander.
Qatar signed a landmark agreement with U.S. aerospace giant Boeing on Wednesday to acquire 160 aircraft for Qatar Airways, a deal valued at $200 billion. The signing took place in Doha during the visit of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Delegations from Russia and Ukraine met in Türkiye for their first direct peace talks since 2022, with discussions lasting under two hours.
China and Russia have agreed to build a nuclear-powered lunar base by 2036 at the Moon’s south pole. The International Lunar Research Station will support scientific research and resource exploration, marking a major step in their joint space efforts amid shifting global space priorities.
ChatGPT climbed to fifth place among the world’s most visited websites in April, outpacing rivals in the AI space despite increasing competition, including from China’s DeepSeek.
Plan-S has entered a strategic partnership with Azerbaijan's national space agency, Azercosmos, to support the country’s digital transformation through satellite-based solutions, particularly in rural areas and sectors like agriculture and energy.
China launched a group of space-based computing satellites aboard a Long March-2D rocket, according to state media.
Countries are gathering at the United Nations on Monday to reignite efforts to regulate AI-controlled autonomous weapons, as experts warn that urgent action is needed to prevent misuse of these increasingly prevalent technologies in modern warfare.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced on May 16 that his country has started the process of joining the New Development Bank of BRICS.
Ministers in Libya’s Government of National Unity (GNU) are resigning one by one amid mounting protests in Tripoli, Libya Press agency reports
The US Supreme Court on Friday paused President Donald Trump’s attempt to carry out deportations using the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, siding with a group of Venezuelan immigrants in Texas who argued they were at risk of sudden removal under the rarely used wartime law.
Two North Korean fishermen picked up by South Korean patrols in March remain stranded in the South as Pyongyang refuses to respond to requests for their return.
The US has lost its final AAA credit rating after Moody’s downgraded the country to Aa1, citing growing deficits and mounting debt as risks to long-term fiscal health.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment