Amazon’s Enhanced AI Alexa Delayed to 2025

Amazon’s revamped Alexa, touted to handle complex queries, won’t be released until next year. Despite early 2024 goals, the project faces setbacks attributed to issues with language models and internal challenges.

Amazon’s anticipated update for its Alexa voice assistant will now debut in 2025 rather than the originally planned late 2024. According to Bloomberg, development hurdles persist, focusing on refining large language models (LLMs). While intended to tackle more sophisticated user queries, the redesigned Alexa struggles with tasks previously managed with ease, like setting timers or controlling smart lights.

Initially, the launch was set for October, but the timeline shifted, allowing Amazon to introduce its new Kindle devices instead. By August, Amazon revealed Alexa’s new AI power source, Anthropic’s Claude AI, which would require a subscription fee. In response to ChatGPT’s 2023 surge, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy tested Alexa’s capabilities but found them lacking, yet deemed them sufficient for a beta release in early 2024. Still, technical and organizational obstacles remain, suggesting a protracted journey ahead.