Amazon’s upgraded voice assistant, Alexa+, is quietly rolling out — and more than 1 million people are already getting a taste of it.
First teased earlier this year, Alexa+ adds generative AI to the Alexa you already know. It’s not fully launched yet, but Amazon has been steadily inviting users who joined the waitlist. And for many early testers, it feels like a much-needed upgrade.
What’s New With Alexa+?
Let’s be honest: the old Alexa was helpful, but pretty limited. You had to talk to it in a certain way, and most interactions felt stiff.
Alexa+ changes that. Thanks to AI upgrades, it now responds in a more natural, human-like way. You can have full conversations, give vague instructions, or change topics on the fly.
** Some standout features include:
- Smarter responses to casual phrases like “It’s cold in here”
- Routine creation made easier
- Summarizing emails, creating bedtime stories, or helping with homework
- Searching Ring footage by voice
- Booking reservations, buying tickets, and more—right from your Echo And yes, Alexa+ now works with popular services like OpenTable, Uber Eats, Tripadvisor, Ticketmaster, and more.
Who Can Try Alexa+ Right Now?
If you’re in the U.S. and own one of these Echo Show devices:
- Echo Show 8
- Echo Show 10
- Echo Show 15
- Echo Show 21 …you might already be eligible. But it’s still invite-only, so you’ll need to wait for Amazon to send an access code.
The company plans to expand support to Fire TV and Fire tablets over time.
How Much Will Alexa+ Cost?
Right now, Alexa+ is free for users in Early Access. But once the full rollout begins:
- Prime members will continue to get it free
- Non-Prime users can subscribe for $19.99/month This move signals that Amazon wants Alexa+ to become both a valuable Prime benefit and a premium upgrade for others.
Real Feedback from Early Users
So far, reaction to Alexa+ is mixed but leaning positive.
Some users say it’s a major step up — smarter, quicker, and more responsive than what they were used to. Others note that it still has some bugs and unfinished features.
According to Amazon, 90% of what was promised is already live, and more improvements are on the way.
Why It Matters
Amazon sold over 600 million Alexa devices — but struggled to turn them into a real business. As competitors like ChatGPT took the spotlight, Alexa started feeling outdated.
With Alexa+, Amazon is making a comeback. It’s not just about playing music or turning on lights anymore. This version of Alexa aims to be a true digital assistant — one that can actually help with day-to-day life in smart, intuitive ways.
Final Thoughts
Alexa+ isn’t fully launched yet, but it’s already showing promise. With over a million testers and a full public release on the horizon, this could be the biggest Alexa upgrade in years.
If Amazon nails the final version, Alexa+ might just become one of the most powerful voice assistants on the market — blending the smart home with smart conversation.
this article was originally published on https://techthrilled.com/agentic-ai-the-rise-of-autonomous-digital-assistants/
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