DeeperML

Amazon has announced Alexa+, a new, LLM-powered version of its popular voice assistant. This upgraded version will cost $19.99 per month, but will be included at no extra cost for Amazon Prime subscribers. Alexa+ boasts enhanced AI agent capabilities, enabling users to perform tasks like booking Ubers, creating study plans, and sending texts via voice command. These new features are intended to provide a more seamless and natural conversational experience. Early access to Alexa+ will begin in late March 2025 for customers with eligible Echo Show devices in the United States.

Amazon emphasizes that Alexa+ utilizes a "model agnostic" system, drawing on Amazon Bedrock and employing various AI models, including Amazon Nova and those from Anthropic, to optimize performance. This approach allows Alexa+ to choose the best model for each task, leveraging specialized "experts" for orchestrating services. With seamless integration into tens of thousands of devices and services, including news sources like Time, Reuters, and the Associated Press, Alexa+ provides accurate and real-time information.

ImgSrc: platform.thever

References :

• The Verge: Alexa Plus’ AI upgrades cost $19.99, but it’s all free with Prime
• bsky.app: Amazon has announced Alexa+, an LLM-powered version if Alexa that will cost $19.99 per month or free with Prime. It will provide typical AI agent capabilities like booking Ubers, creating study plans or texting a friend, all via voice command. Siri is now dead last when it comes to AI assistants. https://apnews.com/article/amazon-alexa-fee-ai-assistant-017c17bddfa6742d1e78873cdda3663f#
• THE DECODER: Alexa+: Amazon's new AI assistant launches for $19.99, free with Prime
• bsky.app: Amazon has announced Alexa+, an LLM-powered version if Alexa that will cost $19.99 per month or free with Prime.
• Techstrong.ai: Amazon’s New Alexa+ Is GenAI-Powered
• Dataconomy: Amazon revamps Alexa.com and updates its app
• techcrunch.com: Amazon Alexa+ can do your grocery shopping, too
• PCWorld: A new Alexa AI is coming: What it will cost and when you can try it
• Dataconomy: Amazon unveils AI-powered Alexa Plus
• PCMag Middle East ai: Amazon showed off the upgraded Alexa+ at a press event in New York City, revealing it can choose from a whole collection of generative AI models to fulfill your requests in a more conversational way. We got to check her out in action.
• Shelly Palmer: Amazon Unveils Alexa+
• PCMag Middle East ai: Amazon's AI-enhanced Alexa+ will be coming to virtually all Echo devices made in the last five years. That doesn't bode well if you were hoping for new models.
• Maginative: Amazon Unveils Alexa+: A Smarter, More Conversational AI Assistant
• AI News | VentureBeat: Rebuilding Alexa: How Amazon is mixing models, agents and browser-use for smarter AI
• techcrunch.com: Amazon’s new and improved Alexa experience, Alexa+, starts at $19.99 per month, or free for Amazon Prime subscribers.
• SiliconANGLE: Amazon debuts LLM-powered Alexa+ with expanded automation features
• Play HT: Overview of the features and capabilities of Amazon's new AI-powered Alexa+ service.

Classification:

• HashTags: #AmazonAlexa #AIassistant #Trainium2
• Company: Amazon
• Target: Alexa Users
• Product: Alexa+
• Feature: AI assistant
• Type: ProductUpdate
• Severity: Informative