Amazon Unveils AI-Powered Alexa Plus Amid Privacy Concerns

Amazon Has Unveiled a Smarter Alexa, but Almost 3/4 of Users Have Privacy Concerns According to CNET Survey

Expertise Smart home | Smart security | Home tech | Energy savings | A/V Amazon's big 2025 Alexa announcement has hit and we were there to cover the demos and new features. This new version of the popular voice assistant has an AI upgrade to make it more conversation and able to tackle more complex commands. And, of course, it can shop more easily on Amazon. This new Alexa, called Alexa Plus, has other popular AI features like the ability to search through your home security videos and control music or movies with nuance. But the generative AI and extended smart home/life control comes at a cost when it rolls out in March 2025: Prime subscribers get it for free, but everyone else will need to pay $20 per month. A recent CNET survey found, however, that consumers have trust issues with smarter smart home devices. Over 2,000 US adults were asked questions about how they feel about voice assistants in devices like Amazon Echo. How will Amazon's Alexa handle consumer resistance to AI and smart home? We could see new versions of Alexa Emergency Assist, a new approach to Alexa Skills, more smart home integrations -- or even (fingers crossed) new Amazon Echo devices. Our earlier coverage noted that reports show that Amazon is interested in charging users a subscription for these new features, which, according to our survey, more than half of survey respondents said they would not pay anything extra for it. The company is keeping details of the announcement a secret for now. But we'll dive deeper to what our consumer survey found and what it all means for Amazon's event on Feb. 26 and Apple's expected leap into the smart home world later this year. Amazon starts Alexa's revival ahead in the numbers, but not by much. Around half of US adults have used a home voice assistant since Jan. 1, and Alexa ranked at the top with 27% reporting they activated the voice assistant. Apple's Siri wasn't far behind at 21%, with Google Assistant/Gemini in third at $18%. Those numbers reverse a bit when looking only at Gen Z adults. While millennials and Gen X prefer Alexa, Gen Z (at 27%) has a slight preference for Apple's speedy Siri, which is also set for AI upgrades this spring. That indicates Alexa may have some catch-up work to do if it wants to appeal to a younger crowd. But when was the last time you used a voice assistant for something complex in the first place? If you're like our surveyed users, you probably stick to simple tasks: The most common activity for US adults was asking a quick question, followed by playing music or entertainment and setting timers and reminders. Using smart home commands was farther down the list, with only 23% of people saying they had ever controlled a smart home with voice assistants. That is something Amazon wants to change. Much like Google's Gemini reveal, we expect Amazon to focus on more complex use cases, encouraging Alexa users to hold longer conversations, complete more complex tasks or home routines -- and probably shop more easily on Amazon. That brings up an issue on privacy our survey found. Overall, people aren't sure what to make of more AI. When we asked people if they'd use a voice assistant more often with new AI features, the highest response was "meh" with 34% neither agreeing or disagreeing with the idea. Only 34% of active users reported interest in using voice assistants more if they got intelligence upgrades. In good news for Amazon, voice assistant users also trusted Alexa and Amazon the most when it came to AI (27%) followed by Apple Siri (24%) and Google Assistant (23%) juggling for second place. But 50% of respondents said they didn't trust home voice assistants at all, and a combined 73% were concerned with privacy risks when using AI features. Those are tough hurdles for Amazon to jump with tomorrow's event. Depending on what the company announces, it may also be worried by another statistic: Only 23% of adults said they'd pay a fee for more AI features in voice assistants, while 56% said they would not pay anything extra. That doesn't bode well for an Alexa AI subscription unless it can really prove value beyond a glorified integration with Amazon Prime. CNET will be present at Amazon's announcement to hear and see exactly what they have mind and what Panos Panay, head of Amazon's Devices and Services team, has to say, so expect more news soon. When Alexa's AI features hit, we'll follow up with lots of tests and results as well. Until then, we're very curious how Amazon can differentiate Alexa's AI upgrades with what Google has shown with Gemini and what Apple plans with Siri -- and just how focused they are on making Alexa a money-printing machine. Stop by tomorrow to find out. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,376 adults, of which 1,308 have used a home voice assistant since Jan. 1, 2025. Fieldwork was undertaken Feb. 18 to 20, 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults (aged 18-plus).

Amazon Unveils a Smarter Alexa, but 73% of Users Have Privacy Concerns, According to CNET Survey

Expertise Smart home | Smart security | Home tech | Energy savings | A/V Amazon's big 2025 Alexa announcement has hit and we were there to cover the demos and new features. This new version of the popular voice assistant has an AI upgrade to make it more conversational and able to tackle more complex commands. And, of course, it can shop more easily on Amazon. This new Alexa, called Alexa Plus, has other popular AI features, like the ability to search through your home security videos and control music or movies with nuance. But the generative AI and extended smart home/life control will come at a cost when it rolls out in March: Prime subscribers get it for free, but everyone else will need to pay $20 per month. However, a recent CNET survey found that consumers have trust issues with smarter smart home devices. Over 2,000 US adults were asked questions about how they feel about voice assistants in devices like Amazon Echo. How will Amazon's Alexa Plus handle consumer resistance to AI and smart homes when it launches in March? And how will it compare with Apple's expected leap into the smart home world later this year? There are still questions left, but here's what our data is saying. Amazon will start Alexa's March revival ahead in the numbers, but not by much. Around half of US adults have used a home voice assistant since Jan. 1, and Alexa ranked at the top with 27% reporting they activated the voice assistant. Apple's Siri wasn't far behind at 21%, with Google Assistant/Gemini in third at $18%. Note that Amazon reported at its event that its own data showed people were using Alexa 20% more in 2024 compared with 2023. Those numbers reverse a bit when looking only at Gen Z adults. While millennials and Gen X prefer Alexa, Gen Z (at 27%) has a slight preference for Apple's speedy Siri, which is also set for AI upgrades this spring. That indicates Alexa may have some catch-up work to do if it wants to appeal to a younger crowd: Will these generative AI features, aimed largely at homeowners and Amazon Prime havers, be of any interest to Gen Z? But when was the last time you used a voice assistant for something complex in the first place? If you're like our surveyed users, you probably stick to simple tasks: The most common activity for US adults was asking a quick question, followed by playing music or entertainment and setting timers and reminders. Using smart home commands was farther down the list, with only 23% of people saying they had ever controlled a smart home with voice assistants. That is something Amazon wants to change with these announced update. Much like Google's Gemini reveal, Alexa Plus is focusing on more complex use cases, encouraging Alexa users to hold longer conversations, complete more complex tasks, choose entertainment organically -- and buy their loved ones more stuff . That brings up an issue on privacy our survey found. Overall, people aren't sure what to make of more AI. When we asked people if they'd use a voice assistant more often with new AI features, the highest response was "meh," with 34% neither agreeing nor disagreeing with the idea. Only 34% of active users reported interest in using voice assistants more if they got intelligence upgrades. In good news for Amazon, voice assistant users also trusted Alexa and Amazon the most when it came to AI (27%) followed by Apple Siri (24%) and Google Assistant (23%) juggling for second place. But 50% of respondents said they didn't trust home voice assistants at all, and a combined 73% were concerned with privacy risks when using AI features. Those are tough hurdles for Amazon to jump, especially when the company is only offering Alexa Plus free for Amazon Prime subscribers while charging others $20. Our survey showed only 23% of adults said they'd pay a fee for more AI features in voice assistants. In comparison, 56% said they would not pay anything extra. That doesn't bode well if Amazon is planning on a big jump over to Alexa Plus. When Alexa Plus rolls out, we'll be there to see how well it works and how Amazon is differentiating Alexa's AI upgrades with what Google has shown with Gemini and what Apple plans with Siri. We suspected Amazon wanted to use this new Alexa to bring in more revenue and boost Amazon Prime subscriptions, and it looks like that's exactly what they are aiming for. However, we're interested to see how this affects smart home integrations and if Alexa Plus really is bringing something new to the table. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,376 adults, of which 1,308 have used a home voice assistant since Jan. 1, 2025. Fieldwork was undertaken Feb. 18-20, 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults (aged 18-plus).

Amazon Teases Big Alexa AI Upgrade Tomorrow, But 73% of Users Have Privacy Concerns, CNET Survey Finds

Expertise Smart home | Smart security | Home tech | Energy savings | A/V Tomorrow, we'll finally see Amazon's (previously delayed) Alexa upgrade event, where Amazon is expected to announce generative AI capabilities for the voice assistant, allowing Alexa to understand natural language more easily and hold full conversations with users, among other potential tricks. As our consumer tech writer Samantha Kelly noted, "If announced, this would mark Alexa's most significant evolution since its debut in 2014." A recent CNET survey found, however, that consumer sentiment is having trust issues with smarter smart home devices. Over 2,000 US adults were asked questions about how they feel about voice assistants in devices like Amazon Echo. How will Amazon's Alexa handle consumer resistance to AI and smart home? We could see new versions of Alexa Emergency Assist, a new approach to Alexa Skills, more smart home integrations -- or even (fingers crossed) new Amazon Echo devices. Our earlier coverage noted that reports show that Amazon is interested in charging users a subscription for these new features, which, according to our survey, more than half of survey respondents said they would not pay anything extra for it. The company is keeping details of the announcement a secret for now. But we'll dive deeper to what our consumer survey found and what it all means for Amazon's event on February 26th and Apple's expected leap into the smart home world later this year. Amazon starts Alexa's revival ahead in the numbers, but not by much. Around half of U.S. Adults have used a home voice assistant since January 1st, 2025 and Alexa ranked at the top with 27% reporting they activated the voice assistant. Apple's Siri wasn't far behind at 21%, with Google Assistant/Gemini in third at $18%. Interestingly, those numbers reverse a bit when looking only at Gen Z adults. While millennials and Gen X prefer Alexa, Gen Z (at 27%) has a slight preference for Apple's speedy Siri, which is also set for AI upgrades this spring. That indicates Alexa may have some catch-up work to do if it wants to appeal to a younger crowd. But when was the last time you used a voice assistant for something complex in the first place? If you're like our surveyed users, you probably stick to simple tasks: The most common activity for US adults was asking a quick question, followed by playing music or entertainment and setting timers/reminders. Using smart home commands was farther down the list, with only 23% of people saying they had ever controlled a smart home with voice assistants. That, of course, is something Amazon wants to change. Much like Google's Gemini reveal, we expect Amazon to focus on more complex use cases, encouraging Alexa users to hold longer conversations, complete more complex tasks or home routines -- and probably shop more easily on Amazon. That brings up an issue on privacy our survey found. Overall, people aren't sure what to make of more AI. When we asked people if they'd use a voice assistant more often with new AI features, the highest response was "meh" with 34% neither agreeing or disagreeing with the idea. Only 34% of active users reported interest in using voice assistants more if they got intelligence upgrades. In good news for Amazon, voice assistant users also trusted Alexa and Amazon the most when it came to AI (27%) followed by Apple Siri (24%) and Google Assistant (23%) juggling for second place. But 50% of respondents said they didn't trust home voice assistants at all, and a combined 73% were concerned with privacy risks when using AI features. Those are tough hurdles for Amazon to jump with tomorrow's event. Depending on what the company announces, it may also be worried by another statistic: Only 23% of adults said they'd pay a fee for more AI features in voice assistants, while 56% said they would not pay anything extra. That doesn't bode well for an Alexa AI subscription unless it can really prove value beyond a glorified integration with Amazon Prime. CNET will be present at Amazon's announcement to hear and see exactly what they have mind and what Panos Panay, head of Amazon's Devices and Services team, has to say, so expect more news soon. When Alexa's AI features hit, we'll follow up with lots of tests and results as well. Until then, we're very curious how Amazon can differentiate Alexa's AI upgrades with what Google has shown with Gemini and what Apple plans with Siri -- and just how focused they are on making Alexa a money-printing machine. Stop by tomorrow to find out. Survey Methodology: All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,376 adults, of which 1,308 have used a home voice assistant since Jan. 1, 2025. Fieldwork was undertaken February 18-20, 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults (aged 18-plus).

What to expect from Amazon's big Alexa event this week

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy is a smart home reporter who's been testing connected gadgets since 2013. Previously a contributor to Wirecutter, Wired, Dwell, and US News. Amazon is holding a press event this week, where we expect it to finally launch its "new" Alexa. This could be the beginning of a major shift in how we use generative AI in our homes, or it could be a big disappointment. The latter seems likely, based on the delays and persistent rumors that the voice assistant is struggling with its revamp. But I'm hoping we'll at least end up somewhere in the middle -- with a smarter, more useful Alexa, if not the "superhuman assistant" Amazon has promised. The event, scheduled for 10AM on Wednesday, February 26th, in New York City, is being hosted by Amazon's new devices and service chief Panos Panay, which is a strong hint there'll be new hardware. The flagship fourth-gen Amazon Echo speaker is way past due for an upgrade, and with smart glasses being so hot right now, I could see Alexa getting cozier on our faces. Here's a look at what we expect from the event, what not to expect, and what we hope is coming. Remember to tune in to The Verge's live blog on Wednesday. I expect Amazon to announce the long-awaited arrival of its new Alexa, which has been rearchitected and infused with generative AI -- courtesy of its LLMs, including Titan and reportedly some of Anthropic's Claude. First announced in the fall of 2023, the revamp of Amazon's once trailblazing AI voice assistant has been a long time coming. While it's fine to set a timer or play music and turn your lights off, the current Alexa has struggled to find purpose in a world dominated by ChatGPT, Gemini, and their ilk. The new "Remarkable Alexa," as it's reportedly called, should understand natural speech, interpret context, respond to multiple requests in a single command, and take action on your behalf with either deeper API integrations and / or genuine agentic abilities. All of this means that we should be able to talk to Alexa without using clunky nomenclature and get more useful responses (assuming Amazon has managed to squash Alexa's reported need to show off). For smart home control, we should be able to say a command like, "Alexa, turn out the lights, lock the back door, and turn the thermostat to Sleep -- oh, and play sleep sounds in the bedroom," and the Assistant will do it all. Amazon's new Alexa should also be tuned in to your smart home and its capabilities. At CES this year, I spoke with companies working on integrations with the new Alexa, using the new developer tools Dynamic Controller and Action Controller that Amazon announced in 2023. Then Amazon said it was working with GE Cync, Philips Hue, GE Appliances, iRobot, and Roborock on features that would allow the Assistant to better understand what you want devices to do. For example, say "Alexa, the floor is dirty," and it will send out your robot vac. GE Cync's Carmen Pastore confirmed to The Verge that the smart lighting company is working on integrating what he called "Amazon Alexa Reflex" to simplify lighting scene control with natural language voice commands. This is where Alexa can differentiate itself. The voice assistant could bring value if it can fuse its current capabilities with generative AI-powered improvements. However, reports suggest this has been a challenge, with the new Alexa prone to hallucinating or refusing to turn on lights. It's also an area competitors Apple and Google, who are tackling the same challenge with Siri and Google Assistant, are reportedly struggling with. Thanks to the billions of cheap Alexa-enabled devices in people's homes, Amazon has a head start in the smart home. However, the flagship Echo fourth-gen smart speaker is now four years old. The company has said its new Alexa will run on all current hardware, but I expect the improved voice assistant will come with a shiny new home -- especially considering Panay, the new devices and services chief, has impressive hardware chops, courtesy of his time at Microsoft building the Surface line. When it announced the new Alexa in 2023, Amazon launched the Echo Hub smart home controller and the third-gen Echo Show 8 smart home display. While we might see an Echo Hub 2.0, the stage is set for a new Echo speaker with a new design, improved processing power, local control, and more smart home sensors. While the home is Alexa's comfort zone, Amazon could continue pushing us to use Alexa on the go with new Echo Frame smart glasses and a third generation of the flagship Echo Buds, making the smarter Alexa accessible wherever we are. At the 2023 event, Amazon showed off several new AI features on its Fire TV line, including an improved Alexa search and generative AI screensavers, along with a new soundbar and souped-up Fire TV sticks. While new capabilities are likely, it's also possible we'll see new, more powerful Fire TV hardware, perhaps with Thread and Matter functionality built in, to help power deeper integration between Fire TV, Alexa, and the smart home. We'll have to wait and see. We probably won't see a slew of new devices. There wasn't a traditional fall hardware event in 2024. Instead, Amazon has announced a steady flow of new products over the past few months, including new Kindles and two new Echo Shows. And earlier this month, Ring announced its first 2K-capable security camera, and Eero expanded its line of Wi-Fi 7 routers. All of this points to this event being just about Alexa and ways to communicate with the AI. Amazon has said publicly that it's considering charging for the new Alexa, with reports suggesting a price between $5 and $10 a month. Some have said it will be free for a limited time. Reuters reported that Amazon could generate $600 million annually if just 10 percent of its users paid $5 per month for the service. Considering that Amazon reportedly lost over $25 billion on its Alexa division, this would be a much-needed boost for the product. A subscription-based Alexa would be a first for the company, but it's fairly common with AI services. In the smart home, we've already seen features like AI-powered video search from Ring and Google Home behind paywalls. But will you pay for a better Alexa? If it can deliver on its promises and more -- maybe. The new Alexa needs to create enough value for users. One area it can do this is by solving specific problems. For example, I tested the Skylight Calendar, whose AI assistant could manage my household's calendar for me. It costs $80 a year but is genuinely useful. Making Alexa really useful is Amazon's biggest hurdle. It doesn't have the personal context that competing assistants like Siri and Google Assistant have by being embedded in your phone. If Amazon can find a way to connect to that personal data, combined with the context it has about your home, it could get there. It's a big if, and Amazon has a huge trust and privacy mountain to climb to get there.

Alexa Is Getting a Major AI Upgrade From Amazon. What We Know So Far

Samantha Kelly is a freelance writer with a focus on consumer technology, AI, social media, Big Tech, emerging trends and how they impact our everyday lives. Her work has been featured on CNN, NBC, NPR, the BBC, Mashable and more. Amazon is expected to announce a major artificial intelligence upgrade for its voice assistant Alexa next week, which could change how we interact with this popular piece of smart home tech. Amazon sent out media invites for a Feb. 26 event in New York City, and Amazon's Devices and Services team lead Panos Panay is scheduled to speak. Panay joined Amazon in 2023 after spending decades at Microsoft, where he helped shape the Surface product line. The event is expected to preview Alexa's long-rumored generative AI voice capabilities, which could significantly enhance its ability to engage in more natural, contextual conversations and complete multistep tasks. If announced, this would mark Alexa's most significant evolution since its debut in 2014. Although Amazon has long been a leader in the AI assistant space, the landscape is rapidly shifting. Companies like OpenAI, Google and Anthropic are rolling out increasingly sophisticated AI assistants capable of multitasking and completing complex requests. Alexa currently processes one command at a time. Last month, OpenAI introduced a new AI agent called Operator, which aims to handle everyday tasks like making dinner reservations, ordering groceries and filling out forms. Amazon told CNET that the event will highlight the latest innovations from the Alexa team but did not provide further details. With more than half a billion Alexa-enabled devices in homes worldwide, a generative AI upgrade could reshape how users interact with voice assistants, and potentially introduce a paid tier for more advanced capabilities. Reuters reported that Amazon has considered charging between $5 and $10 per month for the service, while keeping the original version of Alexa free. Apple is also rumored to ramp up its smart home efforts with a Siri-powered, wall-mounted display designed to control household devices such as thermostats, lights and appliances. Predicted to launch in March, the device is expected to be part of Apple's push to compete more aggressively in the smart home market, where it has historically trailed Google and Amazon.

Amazon Is Giving Alexa Is a Major AI Upgrade. Here's What We Know

Voice assistant Alexa is expected to get a major artificial intelligence upgrade from Amazon tomorrow, and it could change how we interact with this popular piece of smart home tech. Amazon is hosting an event in New York City on Feb. 26, and Amazon's Devices and Services team lead Panos Panay will be speaking there. Panay joined Amazon in 2023 after spending decades at Microsoft, where he helped shape the Surface product line. The event is expected to preview Alexa's long-rumored generative AI voice capabilities, which could significantly enhance its ability to engage in more natural, contextual conversations and complete multistep tasks. If announced, this would mark Alexa's most significant evolution since its debut in 2014. Although Amazon has long been a leader in the AI assistant space, the landscape is rapidly shifting. Companies like OpenAI, Google and Anthropic are rolling out increasingly sophisticated AI assistants capable of multitasking and completing complex requests. Alexa currently processes one command at a time. Last month, OpenAI introduced a new AI agent called Operator, which aims to handle everyday tasks like making dinner reservations, ordering groceries and filling out forms. Amazon told CNET that the event will highlight the latest innovations from the Alexa team but did not provide further details. With more than half a billion Alexa-enabled devices in homes worldwide, a generative AI upgrade could reshape how users interact with voice assistants, and potentially introduce a paid tier for more advanced capabilities. Reuters reported that Amazon has considered charging between $5 and $10 per month for the service, while keeping the original version of Alexa free. Apple is also rumored to ramp up its smart home efforts with a Siri-powered, wall-mounted display designed to control household devices such as thermostats, lights and appliances. Predicted to launch in March, the device is expected to be part of Apple's push to compete more aggressively in the smart home market, where it has historically trailed Google and Amazon.

Amazon eyes new direction for Alexa with AI overhaul

Feb 26 (Reuters) - Amazon (AMZN.O), opens new tab on Wednesday is set to host an event showcasing new capabilities for Alexa that will bring the service into the age of generative artificial intelligence, more than a decade after it ushered in a wave of investment in voice assistants. The firm has been short on details beyond confirming an event it is hosting with its head of devices in New York is Alexa-focused. However, people familiar with the matter told Reuters the event will see the unveiling of a secret project known internally as "Banyan" aimed at making Alexa more conversational. The effort carries significant weight at Amazon, which has plowed billions of dollars into Alexa since its launch in 2014 in the hope of putting the service into a range of devices and ultimately driving sales on its main e-commerce website. Alexa is voice-controlled software installed in products such as smart speakers that can provide answers to user questions, play music, set timers and serve as a hub for home automation, by linking internet-connected devices so that, for instance, a light can be turned on with just voice prompts. The new Alexa AI service will be able to respond to multiple prompts in sequence and, company executives have said, even act as an "agent" by taking actions for users without their direct involvement. That contrasts with the current iteration which generally handles only a single request at a time. Executives have debated charging as much as $10 per month for the new service, people have told Reuters, to recoup some of the investment sunk into the money-losing business. At least initially, Amazon will also continue to offer what it is now calling "Classic Alexa," the version broadly available today for free, as it rolls out the new service to a limited group of consumers in the coming weeks and months. Amazon has said there are some 500 million Alexa-capable devices in consumer hands already, meaning the revamp is at once a huge money-making opportunity for the Seattle retailer - and a big financial risk if it does not live up to expectations. The company earlier this month sent reporters invites to an event to be held later today at a space in New York's Tribeca neighborhood. Reporting by Greg Bensinger; Editing by Christopher Cushing Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab Suggested Topics:Disrupted Greg Bensinger Thomson Reuters Greg Bensinger joined Reuters as a technology correspondent in 2022 focusing on the world's largest technology companies. He was previously a member of The New York Times editorial board and a technology beat reporter for The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. He also worked for Bloomberg News writing about the auto and telecommunications industries. He studied English literature at The University of Virginia and graduate journalism at Columbia University. Greg lives in San Francisco with his wife and two children.

Here's everything Amazon promised back when it teased the future conversational Alexa AI

Hey Alexa, how many days has it been since September 20, 2023? I'll tell you - It's been 525 days since then. That's a fact which has been on my mind, and potentially yours and countless other Alexa users, as that's the date of the last Amazon Devices event at which Alexa AI was unveiled. Essentially, Amazon's plan for its virtual assistant, which lives in countless Echo devices, was to get a large language model addition to make it "more intuitive, intelligent, and useful." 525 days later, though, Alexa hasn't gotten a major upgrade, and Alexa AI still isn't here with the promised upgrades. There is a very good chance we're on the cusp of Amazon debuting its next Alexa, though, and hopefully rolling out the promised enhancements. Panos Panay - Amazon's head of devices - will take the stage for Amazon's Devices and Services February 26th event, and you can read our live blog to follow along with the news as it breaks. For now, though, let's flip the calendar back and walk through what Amazon promised. Amazon originally teased Alexa AI as the central brain for all it's Echo devices back in September of 2023, but the company did hedge a bit on the rollout, noting it would arrive first in the US at an undisclosed date with a limited feature set. One of the leading demos, which former devices head Dave Limp showed off on stage, was a much more conversational Alexa. You could talk back and forth more informally, much like with a family member or a friend, and ultimately, much like what ChatGPT's voice mode or Gemini Live is like today. It was an actual demo as well, in that it took a few attempts before it worked and Limp was able to chat with Alexa about his presentation. It was a much more natural Alexa that could weave in the answers with a better cadence. Further, it could pull on the knowledge it had learned about the household, answering queries about favorite sports team, and triggering multiple automations concurrently. It was a true personalization for Alexa, and that was the main promise. Back in 2023, it was impressive, but this is closer to the AI models we see and can interact with from the likes of OpenAI and Google today. On the smart home side, the enhanced Alexa was promised to take action based on more human requests; instead of asking for your fans and heaters to be turned on, you could simply tell Alexa that you're too cold or warm and then it would automatically start adjusting connected smart home gadgets. It could also run through multiple smart home automations with the turn of a phrase and even generate text if you ask. Pretty neat. It's kind of a mixture of a true smart home assistant with intelligent cues paired with a modern AI chatbot; fitting that this landmark moment should be housed in the first virtual assistant to really captivate so many households and land a spot in millions of homes. That brings us to the present day. Will Panos Panay, the current head of devices, take what was already teased and build it into an actual drop for current Echo devices around the globe? Might it start in the US only with support for select devices? Time will tell, though judging by the initial promise of Alexa AI, that could likely be the case. My hope, and let's say prediction, is that we see pieces of Alexa AI come to fruition and that Amazon will use this opportunity to really enhance home smarts and integrate AI chat further in a uniquely helpful way. More critically, though, as my colleague Lance Ulanoff wrote, is that Amazon may or may not retain support for even it's oldest Echos. Amazon has sold countless Echo devices, and while Alexa is great for controlling music and basic requests, unleashing this next-gen version on a bounty of hardware is exciting - so we hope everyone gets the chance, no matter the age of their Echo devices. Still, though, I'd take a shiny, new Echo smart speaker with an improved AZ1 Neural Edge chip and other hardware to really let this new Alexa burn down the highway. Either way, my first request to this new Alexa will be to play some Bruce Springsteen - some things simply never change. Stick with TechRadar for the latest as Amazon unveils it at its February 26, 2025 event.

What to expect at Amazon's event this week: Alexa 2.0, new Echos, and Fire TV upgrades

Amazon is planning a Devices and Services event this week, where it's expected to make some major announcements. Here's what we know so far. Amazon has been focused on bringing generative AI to Alexa for the past few years, hitting multiple delays in launching new features that the company first announced in September 2023. The delayed Alexa 2.0 seems poised for a 2025 release, as evidenced by the surprise Devices and Services event Amazon is hosting this week. Amid rumors of Alexa 2.0 shortcomings, Amazon skipped its 2024 Devices and Services event, where the company typically announces new Alexa features and hardware devices. Now, the company plans to host an Amazon Alexa-themed event on Wednesday, where it is expected to unveil the voice assistant's generative AI features and finally put an ETA on its launch. Also: 5 ways AI can help with your taxes - and 10 major mistakes to avoid The event will take place on Feb. 26 in New York City and will be Panos Panay's first since joining the Devices and Services division after his Microsoft exit. But aside from new Alexa features, Amazon could be preparing to launch other devices. Adding generative AI to Alexa is expected to be the main event. During the last Devices and Services event in 2023, Amazon announced a gen AI-powered Alexa coming to an Echo device near you. That Alexa would feature a more natural cadence in its replies, could handle multiple prompts in a session, and would generate content instead of providing canned answers to questions. It would also feature greater customization power to remember user preferences (perhaps like ChatGPT's Memory) for more productive user interactions. Also: This app makes using Ollama local AI on MacOS devices so easy But Amazon said little about the new Alexa after the event, with rumors suggesting that the company was repeatedly forced to delay its gen AI launch due to deficient performance. After skipping last year's event, the company sent out invitations to an event this Wednesday, Feb. 26. The logical conclusion: This is the dawn of Alexa 2.0 (especially considering that the invitations are Alexa-themed). While Alexa dominates the US market for virtual assistants, preferred by two-thirds of Americans, it's also recently fallen behind other assistants, including Google and, most recently, Siri. The release of OpenAI's ChatGPT in recent years triggered a tidal wave of generative AI that pushed other virtual assistants ashore, while Alexa appears to have sunk to the bottom of the ocean. Also: Security firm discovers DeepSeek has 'direct links' to Chinese government servers The new breed of gen AI-powered virtual assistants -- ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot powered by OpenAI's technologies, Google Assistant powered by Gemini, and Siri powered by Apple LLMs -- have surged ahead in the past two years. While their progress has been riddled with obstacles and delays, they've all gotten there sooner or later -- except for Amazon's Alexa. Amazon's Alexa 2.0 is expected to work behind a subscription service that would range from $5 to $10 monthly. While this has been rumored for about a year, Amazon plans to introduce the upgraded Alexa for free to a limited number of users. Also: OpenAI's o3-mini now lets you see the AI's thought process The "Classic Alexa" will still be available for users who prefer not to pay the monthly fee, though it's not known how long Amazon plans to maintain the current version. While Amazon skipped its large-scale Devices and Services event last year, it still released several new devices from October through December of 2024, including the largest Echo Show ever -- the 21-inch model. Amazon also released a new Echo Show 15, its first-ever color Kindle, the Kindle Colorsoft, a new Kindle Scribe, a Fire TV Stick HD, and a new Fire HD 8 tablet. Also: Mistral's AI chatbot comes to iOS and Android - here's why you should try it While this is already a full lineup of devices, Amazon could still launch some new hardware during this week's event. Amazon could debut new Echo speakers, like an improved Amazon Echo or Echo Dot, both due for an upgrade, or a new smart display designed to take advantage of the new generative AI-powered Alexa. The summer of 2024 also saw the launch of the Echo Spot, a new smart speaker with a small screen that revives the clock radio. While most of the focus for this Amazon Devices and Services event is on Alexa, we could see some Fire TV upgrades coming to Amazon's lineup of smart TV devices, especially AI-powered updates. Amazon announced the Fire TV Omni Mini-LED series of smart TVs last November, and a new Soundbar Plus Series and upgraded 4-Series. While I'm not expecting a new lineup of Fire TV panels, I could see Amazon releasing new generative AI capabilities for existing Fire TVs or revamping its older Fire TV Sticks.

Amazon eyes new direction for Alexa with AI overhaul

(Reuters) - Amazon on Wednesday is set to host an event showcasing new capabilities for Alexa that will bring the service into the age of generative artificial intelligence, more than a decade after it ushered in a wave of investment in voice assistants. The firm has been short on details beyond confirming an event it is hosting with its head of devices in New York is Alexa-focused. However, people familiar with the matter told Reuters the event will see the unveiling of a secret project known internally as "Banyan" aimed at making Alexa more conversational. The effort carries significant weight at Amazon, which has plowed billions of dollars into Alexa since its launch in 2014 in the hope of putting the service into a range of devices and ultimately driving sales on its main e-commerce website. Alexa is voice-controlled software installed in products such as smart speakers that can provide answers to user questions, play music, set timers and serve as a hub for home automation, by linking internet-connected devices so that, for instance, a light can be turned on with just voice prompts. The new Alexa AI service will be able to respond to multiple prompts in sequence and, company executives have said, even act as an "agent" by taking actions for users without their direct involvement. That contrasts with the current iteration which generally handles only a single request at a time. Executives have debated charging as much as $10 per month for the new service, people have told Reuters, to recoup some of the investment sunk into the money-losing business. At least initially, Amazon will also continue to offer what it is now calling "Classic Alexa," the version broadly available today for free, as it rolls out the new service to a limited group of consumers in the coming weeks and months. Amazon has said there are some 500 million Alexa-capable devices in consumer hands already, meaning the revamp is at once a huge money-making opportunity for the Seattle retailer - and a big financial risk if it does not live up to expectations. The company earlier this month sent reporters invites to an event to be held later today at a space in New York's Tribeca neighborhood. (Reporting by Greg Bensinger; Editing by Christopher Cushing)

4 things to expect at Amazon's AI Alexa event

Is Amazon's AI-supercharged Alexa finally ready for prime time? We're about to find out. The table is set for Alexa's big AI reveal, with Amazon holding a long-delayed "devices and services" event in New York City this Wednesday, February 26. So, what's on the menu? Good question. For its part, Amazon has offered a few hints, noting that Wednesday's unveiling with be "Alexa-focused." Meanwhile, tech sleuths have discovered that if you assemble the various press invites Amazon sent out for the gathering, you can spell out the "Alexa" logo. Of course, what we're all waiting to see is whether Amazon's long-promised AI revamp for Alexa is ready for prime time. The last time we saw the new AI Alexa was way back in fall 2023, and since then, there's been a great deal of chatter about false starts, delays, and reversals in Amazon's AI strategy for Alexa. There's also been talk that Amazon might charge extra for access to the revamped Alexa (we understand the "Classic" Alexa will remain free). While not much is certain about Wednesday's Amazon event, we can make some educated guesses. Here are four things I'm expecting to see. This news story is part of TechHive's in-depth coverage of the best smart speakers. Amazon hasn't specifically said whether the AI-supercharged Alexa revamp will take the stage on Wednesday, but I'd be mighty surprised if it didn't make an appearance. Specifically, I'm hoping to see what the new Alexa will actually be able to do. At Amazon's reveal back in September 2023, the AI Alexa was holding chatty conversations about football and writing party invites, while a somewhat aspirational teaser depicted Alexa dispatching a robot vacuum to the kitchen after someone reported a mess in the room. Neat, but I'm guessing the new Alexa to have a more modest range of abilities, at least initially. Google, for example, has put some pretty narrow guardrails up for Gemini's smart home capabilities, and I expect we'll see something similar for Alexa. I'm also anticipating that the new Alexa's freewheeling conversational style may be somewhat curtailed, but we'll see. Another missing piece of the puzzle is when the new Alexa will finally arrive. Back in the fall of 2023, Amazon told us to expect a "preview" of the AI-revamped voice assistant by early 2024; of course, that didn't happen. So, when will we get to kick the tires on the new Alexa? I'm not expecting Amazon to suddenly throw open the gates to Alexa redux on Wednesday; rather, I suspect we'll have to wait at least a month or so. That's in line with a Washington Post report that said Amazon had delayed the new Alexa yet again, with the new launch date pushed back to late March, or even later. Also, I doubt we'll all get to try AI Alexa all at once. Instead, expect a staged and slow rollout, with a small preview audience to start. Shortly after Amazon showed off the revamped Alexa back in September 2023, former Amazon devices chief Dave Limp floated the idea of charging for a "remarkable" new Alexa -- with estimates putting the price in the $5 to $10-per-month range-while keeping "classic" Alexa free. I'm sure Amazon still wants to charge for the new Alexa eventually, but there's been chatter than the initial preview of the AI-enhanced Alexa will be free, and I'd wager that's what we'll be told on Wednesday. Amazon always has new hardware to show off at its device events, and while I don't expect a firehose of new products -- after all, Amazon has recently debuted new Kindles and Fire TV models as well the humongous Echo Show 21 and a second-generation Echo Show 15. Nonetheless, there are some other Echo devices overdue for updates. The Echo Dot, for example, hasn't seen a refresh in nearly three years, while the Echo Show 10 with its swiveling screen is getting similarly long in the tooth. While Amazon may take advantage of its Alexa AI unveiling (or rather, re-unveiling) to show off new Echo devices, it's worth nothing that Amazon previously promised that the new Alexa would work on existing Echo hardware. I'll be attending Amazon's big reveal on Wednesday, and I'm planning on some serious hands-on time. Stay tuned.

What to expect at Amazon's Alexa event today: Alexa 2.0, new Echos, and Fire TV upgrades

Amazon is planning a Devices and Services event today, during which it is expected to make some major announcements. Here's what we know so far. Amazon has been focused on bringing generative AI to Alexa for the past few years, hitting multiple delays in launching new features that the company first announced in September 2023. The delayed Alexa 2.0 seems poised for a 2025 release, as evidenced by the surprise Devices and Services event Amazon is hosting today. Amid rumors of Alexa 2.0 shortcomings, Amazon skipped its 2024 Devices and Services event, where the company typically announces new Alexa features and hardware devices. The company is hosting an Amazon Alexa-themed event today, where it is expected to unveil the voice assistant's generative AI features and finally put an ETA on its launch. Also: 5 ways AI can help with your taxes - and 10 major mistakes to avoid The event will take place today, Feb. 26, in New York City and will be Panos Panay's first since joining the Devices and Services division after his Microsoft exit. But aside from new Alexa features, Amazon could be preparing to launch other devices. Giving Alexa the power of generative AI is expected to be the main event. During the last Devices and Services event in 2023, Amazon announced a gen AI-powered Alexa coming to an Echo device near you. Alexa would feature a more natural cadence in its replies, handle multiple prompts in a session, and generate content instead of providing canned answers to questions. It would also feature greater customization power to remember user preferences (perhaps like ChatGPT's Memory) for more productive user interactions. Also: This app makes using Ollama local AI on MacOS devices so easy But Amazon said little about the new Alexa after the event, with rumors suggesting that the company was repeatedly forced to delay its gen AI launch due to deficient performance. After skipping last year's event, the company sent out invitations to an event happening on Wednesday, Feb. 26. The logical conclusion: This is the dawn of Alexa 2.0 (especially considering that the invitations are Alexa-themed). While Alexa dominates the US market for virtual assistants, preferred by two-thirds of Americans, it's also recently fallen behind other assistants, including Google and, most recently, Siri. The release of OpenAI's ChatGPT in recent years triggered a tidal wave of generative AI that pushed other virtual assistants ashore, while Alexa appears to have sunk to the bottom of the ocean. Also: Security firm discovers DeepSeek has 'direct links' to Chinese government servers The new breed of gen AI-powered virtual assistants -- ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot powered by OpenAI's technologies, Google Assistant powered by Gemini, and Siri powered by Apple LLMs -- have surged ahead in the past two years. While their progress has been riddled with obstacles and delays, they've all gotten there sooner or later -- except for Amazon's Alexa. Amazon's Alexa 2.0 is expected to work behind a subscription service that would range from $5 to $10 monthly. While this has been rumored for about a year, Amazon plans to introduce the upgraded Alexa for free to a limited number of users. Also: OpenAI's o3-mini now lets you see the AI's thought process The "Classic Alexa" will still be available for users who prefer not to pay the monthly fee, though it's not known how long Amazon plans to maintain the current version. While Amazon skipped its large-scale Devices and Services event last year, it still released several new devices from October through December of 2024, including the largest Echo Show ever -- the 21-inch model. Amazon also released a new Echo Show 15, its first-ever color Kindle, the Kindle Colorsoft, a new Kindle Scribe, a Fire TV Stick HD, and a new Fire HD 8 tablet. Also: Mistral's AI chatbot comes to iOS and Android - here's why you should try it While this is already a full lineup of devices, Amazon could still launch some new hardware during today's event. Amazon could debut new Echo speakers, like an improved Amazon Echo or Echo Dot, both due for an upgrade, or a new smart display designed to take advantage of the new generative AI-powered Alexa. The summer of 2024 also saw the launch of the Echo Spot, a new smart speaker with a small screen that revives the clock radio. While most of the focus for this Amazon Devices and Services event is on Alexa, we could see some Fire TV upgrades coming to Amazon's lineup of smart TV devices, especially AI-powered updates. Amazon announced the Fire TV Omni Mini-LED series of smart TVs last November, and a new Soundbar Plus Series and upgraded 4-Series. While I'm not expecting a new lineup of Fire TV panels, I could see Amazon releasing new generative AI capabilities for existing Fire TVs or revamping its older Fire TV Sticks.

All the news from Amazon's AI Alexa event

Amazon is holding a press event this week, where we expect it to finally launch its "new" Alexa. This could be the beginning of a major shift in how we use generative AI in our homes, or it could be a big disappointment. The latter seems likely, based on the delays and persistent rumors that the voice assistant is struggling with its revamp. But I'm hoping we'll at least end up somewhere in the middle -- with a smarter, more useful Alexa, if not the "superhuman assistant" Amazon has promised.

Amazon's big Alexa event is nearly here - here are 4 things to expect, including Alexa's AI upgrade and a new Echo speaker

Will we finally get to see Amazon's long-awaited venture into AI? Amazon's next big Alexa event is imminent, and it's set to be a major one for all things Echo and smart home. The device-focused event, which will take place on February 26 at 10AM ET in New York City, marks the company's first Alexa announcement since September 2023. That was when the Echo Pop Kids smart speaker and its second-gen Echo Show 8 were unveiled. This time, Amazon is likely focused on the Alexa voice and could announce a big change for its smart assistant. While Amazon hasn't officially revealed what's in store for its Alexa event, it hasn't been afraid to drop little hints here and there in the build-up to the next device launch. So far, we can venture a safe guess that the Alexa voice assistant will be the prime focus of the event, which is said to receive a significant AI upgrade, followed by the announcement of a new Echo smart speaker and possible Fire TV updates. Therefore, we have a solid idea of what we expect next from the tech giant, but as we've said, nothing has been set in stone. We won't know for sure until Amazon makes it official during its event, so you can bet our eyes will be peeled for all the latest announcements during our live blog, which we'll update regularly throughout the event. Still, before that, these are the announcements we're expecting to see at tomorrow. At Amazon's last device event in September 2023, the company teased us with a brief look at Alexa AI, an AI-powered version of the voice assistant with ChatGPT-style functions. This could include an advanced ability to interpret context and distinguish natural speech, conducting multiple requests in a single voice command, and a possible monthly subscription fee. There's no doubt that Alexa AI will be the star of the show at Amazon's event. However, as recent leaks have pointed out, the AI revamp may be slightly delayed before access is granted. We've recently reported that an anonymous source informed The Washington Post ($/£) that the AI-revamped Alexa voice had been experiencing inaccuracies when asked questions. As a result, its release date could now be pushed back to March 31, but it will still be announced at Amazon's Alexa event tomorrow. There's a chance we could see a brand new Echo speaker join Amazon's seemingly never-ending lineup of smart home devices that make up some of the best smart speakers. The last time the company unveiled a new Alexa speaker was the Amazon Echo 4th Gen in 2020. Despite skipping its Alexa event last year, Amazon didn't starve us of some fresh Echo devices in its other smart home device ranges. Most notably, the Echo Show 21, which reigns as its largest Echo device, and its Echo Spot smart alarm speaker both made their debuts. Given the near five-year time gap since Amazon's last Echo speaker hardware update, an announcement isn't completely unrealistic. A new smart speaker would also be handy for pairing with the AI-integrated Alexa voice. As we know, Alexa AI is likely to appear during Amazon's big Alexa event. However, we believe that the revamped voice assistant will offer limited free use before introducing a monthly subscription fee. Thankfully, though, this will likely not impact the classic Alexa we all know and love. We've been aware that Amazon has been toying with the idea of implementing a fee for its new Alexa voice which could cost you between $5 to $10 a month. Considering that Amazon has fallen behind its AI competitors ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Apple Intelligence and has yet to ride the AI train, from a business perspective, charging a monthly fee makes sense. However, from a consumer perspective, we're still not entirely convinced that this will be worth splurging on, given its numerous delays and reported inaccurate responses. While its Alexa voice assistant will be the main focus, it's likely that Amazon speak about its Fire TV device range. Amazon's 2023 device event revealed features for its Fire TV devices, including an improved Alexa voice search function and AI screensavers. Following Amazon's Android TV update, we believe the company could introduce new Fire TV devices alongside updates to the abovementioned features during its event. Mentions of new Fire TV hardware were spotted on one of Amazon's developer pages, stating the following; "Android 14-based Fire TV is based on API level 34. The following sections explain some of [the] important changes that you should consider when you build apps for Android 14-based Fire TV". This gives a strong indication that new Fire TV devices will be one of the star announcements at tomorrow's event. This leak has come at an awfully convenient time with the Alexa event due to happen tomorrow, adding to our suspicions that Amazon could expand its Fire TV line. With the lack of mentions of specific hardware models, we're unable to pinpoint what exactly this will entail, but we'd expect it to be the announcement of a new smart TV or streaming stick.

Amazon Alexa event live -- last-minute Amazon devices rumors and all the big news as it happens

Everything you need to know about Amazon's Devices event - Alexa and more Is it time for a new smart speaker? Amazon is holding a Devices event on Wednesday, February 26, its first since September 2023. Typically, these events are used to reveal the latest Alexa-enabled devices, as well as improvements to Amazon's voice assistant. Amazon's Devices event is on February 26, and will start at 10 am ET. As with most Devices events, this one will not be livestreamed by Amazon, but we'll provide updates here, so be sure to bookmark this page for all the latest news. Leading up to the event itself, we'll also be providing analysis and context around Amazon's events and products. We went into a bit of detail as to what we think we might see at tomorrow's event in a separate post, but to summarize, we're pretty sure we're going to get an update on Alexa with new AI capabilities. When Amazon sent out its invites for the event, there were five versions, each with a different background. When strung together, they spell out "Alexa," so it would be pretty wild if that wasn't a focus of the event. We're also reasonably certain that we might get a new Echo device or twenty. It's been a while since we've had a new entry on the best smart speakers and best smart displays.