Well, today Amazon has made Alexa+ official, the vastly improved version of its famous AI resident. Now, customers all over the United States can benefit from its improved features! This new generative AI-powered version just might be the release that changes the game for users. It’s going to power deeper, richer, more impactful experiences than ever before.
Alexa+ blends Amazon’s foundation models with those of other proprietary models. This formidable combination makes it great at things that the OG Alexa was never up for. This model-agnostic approach allows Alexa+ to leverage the best AI technology available for various tasks, ranging from simple inquiries to intricate arrangements.
Alexa+ works on every Alexa device, including Echo products, Fire TV, and the Alexa mobile app. It even interoperates with devices from equity partner companies, making it the ideal solution for everyone from tech-savvy early adopters to non-digital natives. In case you missed it, for U.S. Prime members, Alexa+ is available at no additional cost. For non-Prime customers, on the other hand, they can either pay a monthly charge of $19.99 to have standalone access.
Since its very first release to customers, users have shown an extraordinary level of engagement with all the new functionality provided by Alexa+. Per person use of music streaming has skyrocketed, up an impressive 25% among those who signed up. Simultaneously, cook-along recipe interactions became hugely popular, leading to a fivefold increase in app usage. On top of that, customers are engaging in two to three times the number of conversations with Alexa+ than they did with the first version.
Perhaps the most exciting aspect of Alexa+ is the voice assistant’s newfound capacity for functionally ambitious tasks. No longer do customers have to find and schedule their dinner reservations or Uber rides separately. The assistant integrates natively with go-to services such as Ticketmaster, Thumbtack and Yelp. This versatility is why it’s your indispensable tool for any day’s demands.
While response has been overwhelmingly positive, some feedback hasn’t been so great. Here’s one example of Paradise’s streamer in action. Some beta testers have complained that Alexa+ can be excessively talkative or cut in at inconvenient times. The still low opt-out percentage from users shows that people are receiving Alexa+ positively enough to avoid opting out.
To help guide users gracefully during this transition, Amazon has updated the onboarding experience for Alexa+. Included, you’ll find step-by-step instructions on how to change Alexa’s voice. This allows consumers to further personalize their interactions using the assistant.
“Eventually, we had her use her new version of her old voice, and then switch back again, just to show customers,” – Daniel Rausch, Amazon’s Vice President of Smart Home Devices.
Rausch highlighted the scale of adoption: “We have tens of millions of customers using Alexa+ now, and now we’re going to make it available to all Prime members…Prime members enjoy unlimited access — it’s basically a paid tier level of access that we’re including in Prime now.”
We know that Amazon is always making moves in the smart home ecosystem. Developments like Alexa+ are a particularly exciting step toward engaging users in a deeper and more meaningful experience. This combination of cutting-edge AI features and rich third-party integrations makes it a must-have for any smart home or connected space.