Amazon Alexa+ gets customizable AI personality styles users can switch between on demand

Amazon's AI-powered Alexa+ gets new personality options | TechCrunch

Amazon is introducing a new feature that will allow users to change the personality of its AI assistant, Alexa+. On Wednesday, the company launched three new Alexa+ personality styles -- Brief, Chill, and Sweet -- that will change the AI assistant's tone. In the Brief style, Alexa will respond with shorter, direct responses, while the Chill style will see Alexa answer more like a laid-back friend. Enabling the Sweet style, meanwhile, will have Alexa become warmer and more enthusiastic, offering encouragement and positivity, says Amazon. The idea of infusing an AI with a personality has been a complicated issue for model makers. For some chatbot users, a flattering and affirming AI model, like OpenAI's GPT-4o, led some users to develop an unhealthy dependency on the technology. In a few cases, it even exacerbated the user's existing mental health issues, leading to crises or even suicides, multiple lawsuits have alleged. Still, chatbot users have shown a preference for controlling how their AI responds, even writing custom instructions to dictate the AI's personality. To address this need, OpenAI launched new ChatGPT features in December that allow users to adjust the AI's base style and tone in terms of its warmth, enthusiasm and use of emoji, among other things. Despite this, some users are complaining that the latest model is too reassuring by default. Amazon says its new styles for Alexa have been built on five dimensions that contribute to its personality: expressiveness, emotional openness, formality, directness, and humor. Each style represents specific levels of all five factors. For instance, Brief isn't just concise, it's also casual, direct, and uses minimal humor, the company says. To change Alexa's style, you can either speak to the AI assistant via a device, like an Echo speaker, or access the feature in the Alexa app's Device Settings under "Personality Style." The company notes that these three styles are only the first to ship, and others will be on the way in the future.

You can now make Alexa's AI personality more friendly, blunt, or chilled out

Amazon is giving you more control over how Alexa behaves during conversations and responses. Three "personality style" presets are launching today for Alexa Plus users in the US that allow you to make the AI-powered voice assistant more concise, cheerful, or relaxed, depending on your personal preferences. "Alexa's personality is one of the things customers tell us they love most about Alexa," Amazon said in its press release. "That familiar voice and personality have become a part of so many customers' daily lives, but here's what we've learned from customers since launching Alexa Plus: everyone has their own communication style and preferences, and a truly personal assistant should adapt to match it." The new style presets are Brief, Chill, and Sweet. Contrary to how much people supposedly "love" Alexa's current base personality, Amazon said the Brief option is being introduced in response to "customer requests for shorter, more direct responses," providing a blunt communication style that "cuts straight to the point with no-nonsense." Chill is described as having a relaxed energy that feels like chatting with a laid-back friend, while Sweet is designed to be "your biggest cheerleader" by providing more enthusiasm and encouragement. As someone who finds overtly bubbly and affable robots annoying, I certainly see the appeal of the Brief personality style. The Sweet option feels like something that would make me want to throw my Echo speakers into the nearest river. There's clearly a market for people who want their AI assistants to behave like an affectionate companion, however, which has prompted wider concerns about people getting unhealthily attached to the bots. The new Alexa Plus personalities are supported for eight Alexa voice options. You can change the personality styles by saying "Alexa, change your personality style," or heading into the Alexa app and selecting your device > Device Settings > Alexa's Personality Style.

Pick Alexa's personality: Amazon lets users choose 'Brief,' 'Chill,' or 'Sweet' conversation styles

Tired of Alexa's constant chatter? Wish Amazon's voice assistant would just get to the point without all the extra stuff? Maybe I'm just speaking for myself? Anyway, relief is finally here. Amazon is rolling out a new option to keep Alexa's responses blessedly perfunctory in a new "Brief" mode for Alexa+, along with options for "Chill" and "Sweet" conversation styles that adjust the AI assistant's tone and delivery across Alexa+ devices. Ask Alexa how it's going in Brief mode, for example, and the response might be a curt "All systems operational." Switch to Chill and it's a zen "all systems are in harmony." Go with Sweet and you'll get something like an exuberant "radiating pure joy!" (Responses differ each time.) It's a first for the voice assistant, available now for Alexa+ users. Users can switch by saying "Alexa, change your personality style" or through the Alexa app under device settings. Personality styles can also be paired with any of Alexa's eight voice options, which include different genders and regional dialects. Alexa's default personality also remains an option, and can be restored at any time. Amazon has previously offered voice customization for Alexa, including celebrity add-ons like Samuel L. Jackson and Melissa McCarthy, but those were paid extras that altered phrasing on a limited set of responses rather than system-wide personality adjustments. The new option is part of Amazon's broader Alexa+ overhaul, which has made the voice assistant more conversational, with the ability to take actions such as ordering takeout and booking dinner reservations. The company made the AI-powered upgrade available to all U.S. customers earlier this month, nearly a year after it was unveiled. The personality feature reflects a trend in consumer AI. For example, ChatGPT lets users customize its tone and behavior through custom instructions, and Google's Gemini offers different response styles. Microsoft has been testing a "Personality Studio" for Copilot and introduced a "Real Talk" mode that mirrors the user's conversational style.

Alexa+ now lets you customize its personality -- here's how it works

Three new conversational styles have been added to Alexa+ that change Amazon's AI voice assistant's tone and how it responds to you Since being upgraded from Alexa to Alexa+, Amazon's AI-powered voice assistant has provided users with more natural and conversational responses to their everyday questions. Instead of acting as a virtual butler that simply exists to tend to all your wants and needs, Alexa+ fulfills its duty as a more useful chatbot that can go back and forth with you on requests and topics. Now, a major upgrade has come to Alexa+ -- three new personality changes that give users the ability to interact with communication styles that match their preferences. Alexa+ can now talk to you in three different personalities -- Brief, Chill, and Sweet The three personality changes come in Brief, Chill and Sweet. Brief cuts right to the chase and provides quick, direct responses to your questions. Chill provides a more laid-back, relaxed approach to your inquiries and doesn't sound too far from your average hippie. The third and final personality type Alexa+ now has is called Sweet, which delivers a more passionate and excited response to whatever you ask of it. Starting with the simple vocal prompt of "How are you feeling today, Alexa?" or "How's the weather today, Alexa?" should give you an idea of how each personality change differs now that this update has gone live. With a simple phrase ("Alexa, change your personality style"), you can change Alexa+'s approach to talking with you via an Echo device, through the desktop site, or the mobile app if you're an Amazon Prime member. Doing so through the app is done by selecting your compatible Elxa+ device, selecting Device Settings, going to Alexa's Personality Style, and then finalizing which option you'd prefer. You can also pair any of those personalized preferences with different voices by opening the Alexa app, selecting the Devices tab, choosing your compatible device, going into Settings, tapping General, and finally selecting Alexa's voice to choose from eight vocal options (four masculine and four feminine) Amazon's approach to developing Alexa+'s three new personality selections is built on the foundation of five key principles, which are listed below: * Expressiveness: Ranging from concise to verbose * Emotional Openness: Reserved to enthusiastic * Formality: Professional to casual * Directness: Diplomatic to blunt * Humor: Subtle wit to overt sarcasm Of course, you can switch back to the original version of Alexa at any time, just by asking it to or changing it via the mobile app. Bottom line Alexa+ users who have been tinkering around with their upgraded AI assistant have surely been waiting for an update like this one since the early access period began and transitioned into access for all customers. We're excited to try out every question that comes to mind, any time we want to see how Alexa+ responds through its three new personality changes. Fingers crossed that Amazon adds even more personality options in the near future. A competitive option would be great any time we feel like asking Alexa+, "How much smarter do you think you are than me?" Or just for fun, an anxious selection that frantically answers you when you ask, "How bad is the heatwave going to be today?" Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.