- Anyone in the US can now try Alexa+ for free
- Full capabilities require a Prime membership or subscription
- Early adopters still report many problems
Having launched an early access program for Alexa+ last February, a year later, Amazon is throwing the doors of next-generation AI wide open for all users in the U.S. A limited version is free for everyone on the web, with the full feature free for Prime users or available for a $19.99/month subscription. There is no word yet on a global release.
The improved Alexa is “smarter, more conversational, more personalized, and can do a wide range of things on your behalf,” Amazon enthuses in its press release. It’s a Gemini-like update that replaces Google Assistant (which, by the way, isn’t doing as well).
To upgrade, if you’re a Prime subscriber, all you need to do is say “Alexa, upgrade to Alexa+” within earshot of one of your devices, or log in to the Alexa website and do it from there. If you don’t have Prime, you can chat with Alexa+ for free on the web or sign up for the full package through the same website.
The complete package includes features like access from any device (not just web chat) and sharing Alexa+ with your entire family. To get it, you need to sign up for Prime ($14.99 per month) or simply pay for Alexa+ on your own ($19.99 per month).
“Easier and more delicious”
In theory, there are many good reasons to make the jump to Alexa+. As Amazon points out, instead of just having it play your music, you can ask it questions about artists and genres. You can help with meal plans, chores, travel itineraries, and more – it’s a complete ChatGPT-style experience.
You can still do the basics (like control smart home devices) and you can remember the context of previous conversations. This is also where agency capabilities begin, so you can ask Alexa+ to order takeaways and book taxis using simple commands.
Amazon says Alexa+ is “making life easier and more enjoyable for customers,” and that people use it twice as much as old Alexa, on average. Tens of millions of users have already switched, Amazon says.
For now, you can still go back to the old Alexa if you want, but clearly that’s an option that won’t be around forever. Alexa+ is very much the future of AI assistants as far as Amazon is concerned, and we can expect a broader global rollout soon.
‘Alexa+, bringer of sadness’
Alexa Plus, bearer of r/alexa pain
The idea of Alexa+ sounds great, until you take a quick look at the Alexa dashboard on Reddit. Post titles like “Alexa+, bringer of sadness” don’t inspire much confidence, and users report problems with slow responses, failing smart light connections, and problems performing some of the basic tasks that Alexa was fine with.
There have been regular posts about Alexa+ breaking smart home routines, saying inaccurate “AI decay” when answering questions, misprogramming the calendar, and simply talking too much (which perhaps explains the increased compromise Amazon is talking about).
One user even reported having a problem with their Alexa device playing pornographic noises, while another post titled “Don’t be afraid to leave Alexa+” talks about the benefits of going back to the old AI. While it’s to be expected that there will be bugs in a massive change like this, it certainly seems like there are a lot of them floating around right now.
For the sake of balance, we were very impressed with Alexa+ when we tested it, and it’s fair to say that Reddit doesn’t reflect the experiences of all Alexa+ users. However, it sounds like you might have one or two teething problems if you take the leap.
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