Amazon's Alexa+ Launches with Limited Features, Falling Short of Initial Promises

Some Alexa+ features reportedly won't arrive for months | TechCrunch

Amazon has delivered on its promise to launch an upgraded Alexa experience, Alexa+, by the end of March. But the service reportedly lacks many of the features Amazon demoed at a press event in late February. Alexa+ can't yet perform certain "agentic" AI tasks showcased in the company's marketing, like ordering takeout on Grubhub or generating stories to entertain kids, according to The Washington Post. The assistant also can't visually identify people and remind them to do particular chores, or brainstorm gift ideas -- two additional capabilities shown during the presser. Other features are only rolling out to a subset of users to start, like the ability to order an Uber and get cooking recommendations. Meanwhile, a web app Amazon announced for Alexa+ last month doesn't have a concrete release window. Alexa+ is said to have been plagued with issues from the beginning, owing to challenges with the AI infrastructure that underpins it. Judging by the Post's reporting, it seems that Amazon isn't out of the woods yet.

Alexa+ Takes a Page From Apple Intelligence With Staggered AI Rollout

Products Alexa+ will eventually be compatible with (Credit: Amazon) Alexa+ is expected to debut on Monday with a few new features, but it may be months before we see what Amazon's new voice assistant can really do. As The Washington Post reports, next week's launch will be limited to summoning an Uber or asking what you should cook for dinner. You can also upload documents for Alexa+ to summarize, but you can't delete what you feed into Alexa+ for now, the Post says. The document uploads -- from instruction manuals to kids' soccer practice schedules -- aim to give Alexa more information about users' lives so it can act as a comprehensive assistant. At launch, the updated voice assistant will work on newer Echo devices (no first-gen versions or Echo Show 2nd Gen). The Echo Show 15 and Echo Show 21 are the first in line, but Alexa+ Early Access will also roll out to the Echo Show 8 and 10, according to the fine print. Early access also includes a mobile app experience, where users can "chat with the new Alexa on mobile, get personalized recommendations, and manage your home on-the-go," Amazon says. Eventually, you'll be able to summon Alexa+ on the web and via Fire TVs and tablets. When Early Access ends, Alexa+ will become part of Prime or $19.99/month on its own. "Features will be released on a rolling basis as Alexa continues to get smarter and more capable every day," Amazon says. "Alexa may not get everything right, and we value feedback from everyone who participates. Just say, 'Alexa, I have feedback.'" This revamped Alexa promises a more humanlike conversational flow -- no more rigid "Alexa voice," as Amazon's head of devices, Panos Panay, said at last month's reveal. Whether it works as expected remains to be seen. Other features in the works include the ability to order takeout on Grubhub after talking through dinner options with Alexa+ and identifying family members on the device's camera, the Post says. At the launch event, Panay showcased camera recognition by asking Alexa+ to access his home's Ring camera to confirm if his daughter had walked their dog that day. This gradual rollout of AI features mirrors what Apple is doing with its AI platform, Apple Intelligence. However, this strategy has left customers confused about what features are available and on which devices. A group of iPhone 16 buyers are suing Apple for false advertising since Apple Intelligence features did not launch until a month after Apple's flagship devices hit stores. And even then, it only included a handful of marginally helpful AI tools and a barebones Siri update. As Amazon preps for a larger Alexa+ rollout, meanwhile, it turned off the ability for users to store their Echo device recordings locally. Now, all that data will go to Amazon's servers to feed "generative AI features that rely on the processing power of Amazon's secure cloud."

Alexa+ is out, but missing a lot of features Amazon demoed last month

If there's one thing you can count on with AI tools is that they'll launch without most of the promised features. It happened with Apple Intelligence. It happened with Galaxy AI. Now, it's happening with Alexa+, Amazon's AI-heavy upgrade to its virtual assistant. The tool is officially available but it doesn't do a whole lot, according to reporting by The Washington Post. The paper reviewed a number of internal company documents that noted the delay of many features. These documents suggest that a bunch of tools won't be available for two months or longer. Alexa+ users won't be able to use the platform to order takeout on Grubhub or identify family members via camera to remind them to do chores. The same goes for that neat-sounding tool that the company says will auto-generate a story to entertain kids. Also, Alexa+ cannot be used to brainstorm gift ideas or order groceries. Finally, there isn't a browser-based version available. The company says these delays are because the features do not "meet Amazon's standards for public release." So what can Alexa+ do right now? I haven't gotten a chance to fool around with it, but the early access page suggests customers can use it to order an Uber, identify objects and draft emails. That's something, I guess. Alexa+ is included with Amazon Prime but non-members have to pony up $20 per month. It may not be accessible to everyone just yet, as availability is expanding over the coming weeks and months. Also, it only works on devices with screens. These include the Echo Show 8, 10, 15 and 21.

Amazon's AI assistant Alexa+ launches with some features

Alexa+, Amazon's AI-enhanced voice assistant, will launch to some customers Monday, though not every feature will be available right away Amazon's new AI-enabled assistant Alexa+ is launching Monday but not all of the features the company showcased at a splashy event last month are ready, and not every Alexa owner will get access to them right away. Some of the new features Amazon previewed at the February event won't become available for two months after Monday's launch, and some will take even longer, according to internal company documents seen by The Washington Post. At the event held in New York, Amazon head of devices Panos Panay said Alexa+ would "start to roll out" in March "and in waves over the subsequent months." The delayed features that documents say don't yet meet Amazon's standards for public release include the ability to order takeout on Grubhub based on a conversation with Alexa+ about what you're craving, or for Alexa+ to visually identify family members and remind them to do specific chores like walking the dog. Other Alexa+ features -- like brainstorming a gift idea or generating a story to entertain your kids -- also won't be released until later, the documents said. Starting Monday, Alexa+ will be able to order an Uber or give advice on what to cook, but only for certain Alexa device owners. Customers who own newer models of the Echo Show should be able to access Alexa+, according to the documents, but owners of other devices, like the Fire TV and Echo Spot alarm clock, will have to wait. Amazon has advertised that Alexa+ will be available for chatting on the web at Alexa.com, but that feature, known internally as "Metis," will not launch Monday. The company is also planning to release at least one feature on Monday that customers might have problems with. One of Alexa+'s new abilities, according to the documents and Amazon demos, is the ability to read and summarize uploaded documents like instruction manuals, legal contracts or "multiple emails from the kids' school." That feature will be available on Monday, but with a catch: if customers try to delete any of the files they upload to Alexa+, they'll get an error message that says "deletion of attachments is not yet supported." According to internal emails obtained by The Post, if Alexa+ users ask Amazon for help removing the documents, staff can help them delete the file, but must inform them that the process won't erase all of the associated data. Staff are advised not to tell users "this will permanently delete the file" or that "no one in your home will be able to find the information from the file." Amazon predicts it will fix the issue within a few weeks. The company declined to comment on this story. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The Post. The delayed features underscore the challenges tech companies have had in revamping legacy virtual assistants for the generative AI age in which they must compete with popular AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, Deepseek, Gemini and Copilot. Alexa has millions of users, and Amazon, which first previewed the enhanced AI Alexa in September 2023, isn't alone in being cautious about its launch. Apple also postponed the release of the AI update to its Siri assistant, a delay executives said was "embarrassing," according to Bloomberg. But now -- a year and a half since the first time Amazon promised an AI-enhanced Alexa -- customers are finally getting their hands on the product, which Amazon has said will cost $19.99 a month and is free to Prime subscribers, who pay $14.99 a month. Amazon hired Panay from Microsoft to oversee devices in late 2023 after the division's former head Dave Limp departed to run Blue Origin, Bezos's rocket company. At the Alexa+ launch event in February, Panay compared Alexa+ to a musical performance. "The new Alexa knows almost every instrument in your life: your schedule, your smart home, your preferences, the devices you're using, the people you're connected to, the entertainment you love and use, many of the apps you use, a lot of the services you need, and brings them together into what is an incredible symphony," he said.

Amazon's expensive Alexa+ is now available on certain devices

Google's NotebookLM just made it easier to understand complex ideas Summary Alexa+ is rolling out to some Amazon Echo Show devices in the United States. Many of the new features do not work well or are missing completely. Amazon says the new Alexa is smarter and more conversational, and can summarize emails and tell bedtime stories. Amazon's upgraded AI assistant is finally making its real-world debut, but it seems to be a bit of a dud. Amazon is pushing it as the future of voice assistants, while the launch arrives quietly with limited functionality and some issues. Related 25 of the funniest Alexa commands Looking for a laugh? Ask Alexa these questions Posts Alexa+ was announced early in the year, and it is now appearing on some Echo Show devices (via The Washington Post). However, most of the advertised features are unavailable or completely unreliable. A big upgrade with a belly flop Alexa+ is Amazon's answer to ChatGPT and Google Gemini (and all the other AIs). It promises more conversational interactions, personalized routines, email summarization, and even bedtime stories. This upgraded Alexa is not free, and comes with a hefty $20 a month price tag. The new and improved assistant is only rolling out to a few devices, mainly the Echo Show . But Alexa+ seems to be struggling on even those. Early reports suggest Alexa produces robotic and error-prone answers. Document and email summaries require uploading content to the Alexa app. Even Amazon's own internal documentation warns that functionality "may not work as expected." Early testers said the assistant handles basic queries much more smoothly than the old Alexa, but it struggles with consistency. It frequently defaults to web searches, much like Siri, while AI-generated storytelling and custom routines are missing entirely. It is still early access, so rough edges are expected It was only natural for Amazon to create an LLM of its own. After all, the company put Alexa into millions of homes around the world and practically created the consumer-grade smart home. Now Amazon finds itself under pressure as Google and OpenAI push the boundaries of AI. Alexa+ is meant to be Amazon's answer, but this early version shows how difficult it is to create a functioning AI. The rollout feels more like a beta test than a major launch. Amazon hasn't said when a larger rollout can be expected, but for now, Alexa+ is more promise than product.

It's not just Apple Intelligence: Alexa+ also launching without most features

A new report citing internal company documents suggests that Alexa+, Amazon's equivalent of the new Siri, will also launch without many of its headline features ... Apple promised a new, conversational Siri and a whole lot more, but what has actually launched is essentially just tinkering around the edges. The gulf between what Apple's glossy videos promised, and what the company has so far delivered, is so enormous that the company was forced to pull an iPhone 16 ad focused on a feature which is currently complete fiction. I won't retell every twist and turn along the way - some recent headlines alone are enough: Amazon's Alexa+ presentation was every bit as flash, promising a truly intelligent and useful voice assistant. A demo video showed Alexa booking concert tickets, restaurant reservations and texting a babysitter. "She's useful," Panay repeated, before conducting what he said was a live conversation with the updated software. During the presentation, he demonstrated a flowing ongoing conversation -- a departure from the stilted, single-question interactions Alexa users are familiar with. But The Washington Post reports that Alexa+ too will be mostly vaporware when it launches next week. Some of the new features Amazon previewed at the February event won't become available for two months after Monday's launch, and some will take even longer, according to internal company documents seen by The Washington Post [...] The delayed features that documents say don't yet meet Amazon's standards for public release include the ability to order takeout on Grubhub based on a conversation with Alexa+ about what you're craving, or for Alexa+ to visually identify family members and remind them to do specific chores like walking the dog. So, uh, the headline features shown off by the company in its announcement, then. The piece also says that while you will be able to upload documents and ask Alexa+ to summarize them, there's a teensy-weensy privacy problem: you won't be able to delete those documents from Amazon's server afterwards. The company apparently expects it to take several weeks to fix this. Finally, Alexa+ won't be available on any of the company's standard smart speakers - you'll need a recent Echo Show device to use it. This stuff is hard. Chatbots like ChapGPT have essentially created a highly misleading view of how intelligent generative AI really is. Their output sounds intelligent, and well-informed, and trustworthy - but it's actually none of those things. It's simply a statistical sampling model figuring out which word is most likely to follow the current one when constructing a sentence or paragraph, based on analysis of human-written text in the (hopefully) relevant field. Creating an AI system that simulates intelligence to a useful and reliable degree when working with your own personal data is a whole other ballgame, and it's clear that both Apple and Amazon have promised capabilities they cannot yet deliver.

Alexa+ is rolling out now -- here's what's new (and what's missing)

There's good news for fans of Amazon's Alexa devices. After recently being announced, Alexa+ is now available. Amazon's latest iteration of its voice assistant, Alexa+ is powered by generative AI. This makes it more conversational, smarter, more personalized to the individual user, and overall, just a better experience. While Alexa has arguably not been the most advanced system for quite some time, this could bring it closer to key competitors like Google Gemini and ChatGPT. However, there is a slight catch to all of this. Compared to the original promise of what Alexa+ will be, there are a few key features that seem to be missing. In the rapidly evolving world of AI, this isn't necessarily uncommon in launches. The same thing has happened with Apple Intelligence. So what is new with Alexa+ and what's missing? By utilizing generative AI (the type we see from ChatGPT for example), Alexa+ is able to communicate more naturally. This is a move we've been seeing from both chatbots and voice assistants in recent months, aiming to make conversations flow more easily. This latest version of Alexa+ should be able to better understand colloquial speech and complex or half-formed ideas. Like other generative AI models, Alexa+ will also be better at understanding context, retracing points previously made in a conversation or understanding location, time, or other important factors. In connection with the improvements in speech, Alexa+ is now able to set up systems with other services and devices. This is done through a feature Amazon is calling 'experts'. This could be used to control your smart home via Philips Hue or Roborock, order groceries via Amazon Fresh, or remind you when tickets go on sale via TicketMaster. While Alexa has always been personalized, allowing each person in a house to have an account connected to their voice, Alexa+ takes it a step further. Alexa will know what things you've bought, shows you've watched, songs you've listened to and more. This will allow Alexa to remember key details about you, including important dates in your life, allergies you might have, or your favorite movies. All of this will then be referred back to with any requests. Built with a more complex AI model, this version of Alexa will have a better understanding of the world around it, but you can also feed it more information if you want to. Amazon has highlighted the option to now add documents, emails, photos and messages so Alexa can set schedules, organize calendar plans, or summarize documents for you. In a report from The Washington Post, it was identified that a few of the features expected in Alexa's new launch would be missing. This includes the ability to order via Grubhub based on what you are craving, the ability to brainstorm gift ideas, and a storytime mode for kids, using generative AI to create unique stories for children. The report also identified the fact that Alexa+ won't be able to visually identify family members around the home. This was a feature Amazon spoke about in the original announcement, as well as the use of an Alexa+ web version which also won't be available on launch. Amazon has stated that it chose not to include these features as they weren't up to Amazon's standards for public release. However, it still plans to bring them out in the future, likely rolling out in the following months. Is this the end of the world? Absolutely not. The core features are all there and Amazon has promised to follow through on the missing features in the following months. The important news here is that Alexa is about to get much better. While it is a shame to see previously promised features missing from the list, it is better to see them delayed than launched with major flaws. AI features launched too early in the past have been a disaster. Throw in the inclusion of purchases performed by AI, personal data, and put into the hands of millions of people and it could have been a messy situation. Amazon has announced that Alexa+ will have a subscription price of $19.99. However, all Amazon Prime members will get full access for free. It will start its rollout in the US during an early access period. Then, it will subsequently get rolled out in waves over the following months. Amazon has said it will prioritize the Echo Show 8, 10, 15, and 21 devices in the early access period, before later coming to other devices.

Alexa Plus has started rolling out to users, but it's missing these 5 useful features

When Amazon announced its new AI-enhanced Alexa+ voice assistant, we were beyond excited to finally see Amazon's answer to ChatGPT and Apple Intelligence come to life. In our live blog we speculated a March 31 roll, and it seems as though we were correct as Alexa+ has started rolling out to selected users in the US on certain Echo devices, but it wouldn't be a major launch without a few catches. During Amazon's devices event in February, the company took pride in boasting Alexa+'s revamped voice and AI capabilities, but a report from The Washington Post has identified that Alexa+ is missing a number of handy features. They'll be unveiled in waves over the next few months, but it does feel like a broken promise in some ways. Amazon promised an array of new features for Alexa+ that provided a more interactive and personal experience with the voice assistant, most notably its ability to offer food recommendations and place orders through Grubhub based on what you're craving. This feature has the potential to be a saving grace for indecisive foodies out there, but it has been delayed until further notice. Other useful generative features have gone missing from Alexa+'s early access, including its ability to brainstorm gift ideas when the pressures of gift-buying get too intense, and its storytime mode feature for kids has also been pushed back. The Post has also spotted that Alexa+ lacks the ability to visually identify family members around your home - both of which were demonstrated at its launch event - and the web version for Alexa+ is also unavailable for now. As per The Post's initial report, Amazon has declared that these features are missing from Alexa+ simply because they "don't yet meet Amazon's standards for public release". It's reassuring to know that Amazon has plans to bulk up Alexa+'s features, but you'll just have to remain patient for a few more months. Despite the missing features, Alexa+'s early launch isn't totally lackluster. Since it started rolling out yesterday (March 31) Alexa+ can order you an Uber, search for particular products, and draft emails. While you'll have to wait a little longer for Grubhub integration with Alexa+, you can still use the voice assistant to give you advice on what to cook. Alexa+ can be accessed for a monthly subscription fee of $19.99, but Amazon Prime members will have full access for free.

Amazon's next-gen Alexa+ assistant is here, with a few missing tricks

Amazon introduced a new AI-charged version of Alexa a few weeks ago, and as promised, has finally started rolling out early access to it. Alexa+, as the company likes to call it, is currently limited to a handful of devices. But it seems the preview phase will also skip on some of its most advanced features. According to a report from The Washington Post, which cites internal documents, the ability to identify family members via voice ID and accordingly assign them tasks set by guardians is currently missing. Recommended Videos Moreover, Alexa+ is also currently not in adequate shape to order food from Grubhub based on conversations with users. A handful of other features such as using AI to write stories for kids, and pondering over gift ideas for friends and family are also absent from the early public tests. One of the biggest upgrades to Alexa+ is the advanced conversation capability, which allows it to hold a free-flowing conversation similar to other AI chatbots such as Gemini or ChatGPT. However, the ability to hold conversations with Alexa+ on the web is nowhere to be seen during the preview release. "Some of the new features Amazon previewed at the February event won't become available for two months after Monday's launch, and some will take even longer," says the report. Interestingly, Amazon is also running into a technical issue that prevents the deletion of files uploaded for analysis. It already sounds like a privacy risk, though, especially when dealing with sensitive documents. Just like Google's Gemini, users can also upload files and Alexa+ will summarize or provide answers based on those attachments. Amazon is reportedly hoping to patch the functional flaw in the coming weeks. How to get Alexa+? Alexa+ will be available for free to Amazon Prime customers, but non-subscribers can also opt-in by paying a fee worth $20 per month. As far as the early access goes, priority will be given to customers who own an Echo Show 8, 10, 15, or 21 smart display. Aside from its usual smart home control duties, Alexa+ can also take a peek at your calendar, offer a daily briefing of schedules, handle emails, order groceries, and naturally learn from user experiences over time. Agentic capabilities built atop the Nova Act tool, such as ordering food or simply taking over the web browsing task, are also inherently part of the Alexa+ package. If you have one of the aforementioned devices, Alexa+ support will automatically be extended to other Echo devices in your home. Down the road, it will reach a majority of Echo hardware, except the really old ones such as the first-gen Echo Dot/Plus/Show/Spot, Amazon Tap, and the Echo Show 2nd Gen.

Alexa+ is missing most of its promised magic

Amazon's AI ambitions hit a snag with the launch of Alexa+, their AI-enhanced virtual assistant, now available but notably short on promised functionality. As reported by The Washington Post, many key features demoed last month are delayed, leaving early adopters with a somewhat limited experience. Internal company documents cited by The Washington Post indicate that several touted features will be unavailable for at least two months. This includes the ability to order takeout via Grubhub, identify family members through camera recognition for chore reminders, and auto-generate stories for children's entertainment. Additional unavailable features at launch include brainstorming gift ideas, ordering groceries, and accessing a browser-based version of Alexa+. Amazon attributes these delays to the features not yet meeting their standards for public release. Currently, Alexa+ offers limited functionality such as ordering an Uber, identifying objects, and drafting emails. Alexa+ is included with Amazon Prime; a standalone subscription costs $20 per month for non-Prime members. Availability is gradually expanding over the coming weeks and months, and Alexa+ is exclusively compatible with devices featuring screens, including the Echo Show 8, 10, 15, and 21.

Alexa Plus Is Rolling Out To Select Echo Show Devices - IGN

There's a new Alexa in town - or at least in early access. Alexa+ is an upgrade from the standard Alexa voice assistant, powered by generative AI. The updated assistant comes with quite a few new features, but the main pull of Alexa+ is that conversations with it can have more of a natural flow. According to Amazon, "Alexa+ is more conversational, smarter, personalized - and she helps you get things done." Alexa+ is currently in Early Access, but only on a select few Echo Show devices - the Echo Show 8, 10, 15 and 21 - so if you have or buy one of these devices you can be among the first to experience it. Head to the link below to sign up for notifications about when Early Access will be available. After the Early Access period, Alexa+ will be available as a free Prime benefit or available to people who don't use Amazon Prime for $19.99/month. Since Alexa+ takes more of a conversational approach, you can ask it anything that comes to mind as it pops in your head. It'll help you with a variety of tasks like completing your to-do list, finding specific details from your calendar, booking at a restaurant, and more. Amazon's Alexa+ Early Access page also notes that there are "new features being added regularly," so more details about the upgraded voice assistant are sure to come after the Early Access period. Unfortunately, not every device is compatible with Alexa+. Amazon notes that certain older generation Echo devices - such as the Echo Dot 1st Gen, Echo 1st Gen, Echo Plus 1st Gen, Amazon Tap, Echo Show 1st Gen, Echo Show 2nd Gen, and Echo Spot 1st Gen - will continue to use the old Alexa. The company says on the Alexa+ Early Access page that, "We will soon expand Alexa+ to more devices, including Fire TV and Fire tablets, and Alexa.com."

Alexa+ has arrived: What is Amazon's service missing? - Softonic

Amazon's latest evolution of its voice assistant, Alexa+, promises a more intelligent and natural AI experience, bringing it closer to competitors like ChatGPT and Google Gemini. With generative AI at its core, Alexa+ introduces a range of enhanced capabilities -- but it's launching without some of the most anticipated features. The integration of generative AI allows Alexa+ to understand context, colloquial speech, and complex commands more fluidly. It also offers a deeper level of personalization, remembering what you've bought, watched, or listened to, and even recognizing key dates, preferences, and allergies. A new 'experts' feature enables smooth integration with external services, letting Alexa+ manage smart homes, grocery orders, or even event reminders. Alexa+ now allows users to upload documents, emails, and photos, enabling the assistant to organize calendars, summarize files, and streamline everyday tasks. These additions make it far more useful as a productivity tool, not just a home assistant. Despite these advances, several promised features are missing from the initial release. Alexa+ can't yet generate personalized children's stories, brainstorm gift ideas, or identify family members visually through devices -- capabilities that were originally teased by Amazon. A web version is also absent for now. According to Amazon, these omissions are due to quality concerns, and the company has stated that the features will arrive in future updates. While this is not unusual for tech rollouts, it does temper expectations for users hoping for a fully realized generative AI experience at launch.