Amazon's AI-powered Alexa+ is real and it's coming this year

After a lengthy delay, Amazon has finally jumped on the same AI chatbot bandwagon as everyone else. At an event in New York on Wednesday, Amazon lifted the veil off of the new AI-enhanced version of its Alexa voice assistant, called Alexa+.

Rumors about an AI enhancement to Alexa have been swirling around for a couple of years, but the rollout faced a severe setback in 2024. Beta testing at the time revealed that the new version of Alexa had trouble executing basic commands that the old version never had a problem with.

Evidently, Amazon has made enough progress on that front to reintroduce Alexa to the world.

This updated version of Alexa can theoretically do all of the same things as it could before, like control smart home devices with voice prompts, but it can also take in more conversational prompts to do a variety of other things. According to Amazon Devices & Services Senior VP Panos Panay, the new and improved Alexa+ can "plan a date, book the restaurant, and be your babysitter."

It seems like the upgraded assistant is designed to offer a more seamless, context-aware experience. It remembers past interactions so users can effortlessly pick up conversations where they left off, no matter which device they’re using. Amazon says its next-gen Alexa model will work with Echo devices (like your Ring camera), the Alexa mobile app, and an "all-new web browser experience."

Credit: Amazon

On larger-screen Echo devices, Amazon has introduced a redesigned user interface with an adaptive display. From a distance, it showcases your photos and personalized content, but as you approach, it transitions into a customized Home screen with quick access to your family calendar, music recommendations, a new “For You” panel with personalized updates, and advanced smart home controls.

Based on the demo at Amazon’s event, asking "Alexa, what happened around the house today?" triggers a highlight reel of activity detected by your Ring cameras. It’s clear that a full suite of Amazon smart home products is almost a necessity to unlock Alexa's new capabilities fully.

Alexa+ brings its AI capabilities to Amazon Kids+ subscribers with two new features: Stories with Alexa and Explore with Alexa. Both offer AI-generated storytelling and creative experiences designed for kids to "engage with and explore their imagination."

If you're eager to try the new Alexa+ experience, early access kicks off sometime in March. The AI-powered assistant will cost $19.99 per month, but Prime members get it for free.