Alexa+: The Next-Gen AI Assistant by Amazon

Amazon introduces Alexa+, a next-generation voice assistant powered by generative AI, offering a more personalized and conversational experience.

Amazon just dropped Alexa+, and it’s not your grandma’s voice assistant anymore. This isn’t just an update; it’s a full-blown revolution, thanks to some slick generative AI tech. Imagine an assistant that doesn’t just hear you but actually remembers the little things—like how you take your coffee or that your cat’s birthday is coming up. Yeah, it’s getting personal, and it’s all about making chats with Alexa feel more like talking to a friend who actually listens.

Remember when Alexa first hit the scene with the Echo back in 2014? Fast forward to today, and it’s like comparing a flip phone to a smartphone. With Alexa+, Amazon’s throwing in some brainpower from Anthropic (think Claude and their own Nova) to make sure Alexa doesn’t just understand you—it gets you.

Sure, Alexa+ still does all the old tricks: blasting your favorite tunes, turning your lights off when you’re too lazy to move, and suggesting what to watch next. But here’s the kicker: it’s smarter. It remembers your likes, your dislikes, and even that PDF you asked it to read last week, all to make sure its suggestions hit the mark.

At $19.99, Alexa+ is a steal (well, if you’re in the US and own one of the lucky Echo devices that got early access). It’s not just another assistant; it’s got personality, setting it apart from the likes of ChatGPT and Siri. Think of it as the life of the party in your smart home.

If you’re all in on Amazon—Prime member, smart home gadgets galore—Alexa+ is pretty much a no-brainer. But if you’re the type who sweats over privacy or needs an assistant that can code, you might want to look elsewhere. Just saying.