Amazon Set to Unveil Major AI Upgrade for Alexa: Smarter, More Proactive, and Potentially Paid

Amazon Alexa's Biggest AI Upgrade Yet: Smarter, Proactive, and Possibly Paid

Amazon is set to introduce its most significant AI upgrade for since its launch in 2014. Scheduled for a major unveiling on , the update will integrate generative AI to improve conversational fluency and handle complex multi-step commands within a single interaction. With this advancement, Alexa will evolve into a more proactive assistant, capable of completing tasks with minimal user input. The upgrade may also introduce a paid subscription model, marking a strategic shift in Amazon's approach to monetizing its voice assistant technology. The upgrade will boost automation which enables the assistant to complete ambitious tasks after learning to act proactively. The upcoming model surpasses the existing version since it operates as an intelligent agent while the current system requires user input for every command. Company reports indicate Amazon devotes substantial effort to enhance their update by developing high-quality responses and reducing AI hallucinations. "Banyan" or "Remarkable Alexa" projects have been project names developed by company personnel for this initiative. Although Amazon plans to in a limited capacity the company may charge fees starting from $5 to $10 per month. Classic Alexa will continue to be accessible without charge to users while the newer paid version becomes available. Alexa's service upgrades represent a business strategy both for higher revenue generation and better user satisfaction. Amazon has established a business partnership with Anthropic alongside an $8 billion investment to bolster its Alexa AI capabilities. The partnership between Amazon and Anthropic aims to improve Alexa's capacity for delivering precise context-based responses to users. The industry has advanced its AI assistive technology just as Amazon makes this announcement. Several companies including OpenAI, Google and Apple establish sophisticated AI-driven assistants for the market. OpenAI's "Operator" service fits as a direct opponent to the similar features that Alexa unveils for managing tasks such as grocery purchases and booking appointments. This AI upgrade for Alexa has the power to transform smart assistants in daily usage since it has enabled more than half a billion devices worldwide. This upcoming major update from Amazon has drawn market attention to evaluate its position against increasing within AI assistant platforms.

Alexa Is Set for Major AI Upgrade From Amazon. Here's What to Know

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's voice assistant Alexa is expected to tease a major AI-powered upgrade later this month, which could change how we interact with the tech at home. Amazon sent out media invites for a Feb. 26 event in New York, where Amazon's Devices and Services team lead Panos Panay will be speaking. 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's Alexa Set for Major AI Upgrade: Here's What to Expect

Amazon is expected to tease a major AI-powered upgrade for its voice assistant Alexa later this month, one that could change how we interact with tech at home. The company has sent out media invites for a Feb. 26 event in New York, where Panos Panay, who oversees Amazon's Devices and Services team, will be among the speakers. Panay joined Amazon last year 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. Expected 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 behind Google and Amazon.

Amazon to unveil major AI upgrade for Alexa at February 26 event

Amazon is all set to enter the ongoing Artificial Intelligence (AI) arms race as it is expected to unveil an upgraded version of Alexa, its voice assistant. To make a big news event of their entrance into the AI market, the corporation has also invited the press to an event in New York on February 26. The speakers are going to be Panos Panay, an executive in charge of Amazon's Devices and Services division. Most probably, the event will preview the long-rumored generative AI voice capabilities of Alexa that could make the assistant far better at executing very complex multi-step tasks and enable it to converse in more naturally contextual ways. If made public, this would be Alexa's biggest development since its launch in 2014. Despite Amazon's longstanding dominance in the AI assistant market, things are changing quickly as businesses like Google, Anthropic, and OpenAI are introducing more advanced AI helpers that can multitask and do challenging tasks. At the moment, Alexa only handles one command at a time. However, last month, OpenAI unveiled Operator, a new AI agent designed to do routine chores like ordering groceries, scheduling meals, and completing forms. Also Read : Google rolls out Gemini 2.0 for all users: What you need to know about latest AI models There are speculations that the new Alexa will be more than just a voice assistant. With the new upgrade, it is going to develop into a complex, multipurpose agent. Without ongoing interaction, the new Alexa will be able to respond to several prompts in succession and act on users' behalf. With the help of generative AI, this Alexa is expected to be more conversational, remember user preferences, and provide tailored suggestions for things like restaurants and music. For the time being, the new Alexa will not charge a fee and will first be accessible to a select few people. Nonetheless, there are talks about eventually requiring a $5-$10 monthly subscription charge. Although Amazon is no longer providing new capabilities to the free version of Alexa, customers will still be able to use the classic version. After several development delays, the generative Al-powered Alexa -- internally dubbed "Banyan" -- is anticipated to debut on a larger scale only if it satisfies specific quality standards. Also Read : How Donald Trump came up with the idea to 'take over' Gaza In what ways will the additional AI capabilities enhance Alexa? Are you With the new upgrade, Alexa will likely be able to understand numerous orders at once and become more conversational, much like Google's and OpenAI's more recent AI assistants. Will Alexa's new AI functions be available for purchase? While retaining a free version, reports indicate that Amazon is thinking of launching a subscription layer for sophisticated AI capabilities, with a potential monthly price of $5 to $10.

Amazon to release long-delayed Alexa generative AI revamp: Here's...

Amazon is set to release its long-awaited -- and delayed -- Alexa generative artificial intelligence voice service, said three people familiar with the matter, and has scheduled a press event for later this month to preview it. Once released, it would mark the most significant upgrade to the product since its initial introduction accelerated a wave of digital assistants more than a decade ago. Amazon on Wednesday sent press invites to an event to be held on Feb. 26 in New York featuring the head of its devices and services team, Panos Panay. A spokesperson said the event is Alexa-focused, while declining to elaborate. The new generative AI-powered Alexa represents at once a huge opportunity for Amazon, which counts more than half a billion Alexa-enabled devices in the market, and a tremendous risk. Amazon is hoping the revamp, designed to be able to converse with users, can convert some of its hundreds of millions of users into paying customers in an effort to generate a return for the unprofitable business. The AI service will be able to respond to multiple prompts in sequence and, company executives have said, even act as an "agent" on behalf of users by taking actions for them without their direct involvement. That contrasts with the current iteration, which generally handles only a single request at a time. Executives have scheduled a meeting, known as a "Go/No-go," for Feb. 14. There they will make a final decision on the "street readiness" of Alexa's generative AI revamp, according to the people and an internal planning document seen by Reuters. Alexa's revamp carries with it all the challenges inherent in now-familiar generative AI chatbots from OpenAI, Alphabet and others including the possibility of fabricated answers, known as hallucinations. With access to Alexa available in cars, televisions, thermostats and mobile phones, it could become an essential daily tool for scheduling and even shopping. Initially, Amazon plans to roll out the new Alexa service to a limited number of users and will not charge for it, the people said, though it has considered a $5 to $10 monthly fee. The company will also continue to offer what it is calling "Classic Alexa," the version broadly available today for free. One of the people said Amazon has discontinued adding new offerings to Classic Alexa. While Apple's Siri voice assistant preceded Alexa's 2014 release by three years, the Amazon service supercharged the acceptance of voice assistants. But for many people, Alexa is now used for little more than kitchen timers and weather updates due to its lack of significant overhauls in the last few years. Alexa is the brainchild of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who envisioned a service that would resemble the voice-activated computers on TV's "Star Trek." The hope was that once perfected, users would turn to the voice assistant for hundreds of everyday tasks like turning on lights, preheating the oven, accessing the internet, playing music, writing emails and summoning taxis. "Someday in the future -- that might be years or decades away -- it could answer everything that you would ever ask it," Amazon's then chief of devices, Dave Limp, said nearly a decade ago. With those weighty expectations, the move to upgrade Alexa has suffered delays over concerns around the quality and speed of its responses, people familiar with the matter have told Reuters. Amazon dubbed the new service "Banyan" internally, as well as "Remarkable Alexa," though it was not immediately clear if the Seattle company planned on using either as a new product name. In a January Financial Times interview, Amazon executive Rohit Prasad acknowledged some of the obstacles in developing what is effectively an entirely new service, including the work to eliminate hallucinations. Analysts at Bank of America estimate Amazon could generate $600 million annually if 10% of active users, which it estimates at around 100 million devices, pay $5 per month for the service.

Amazon set to release long-delayed Alexa generative AI revamp

Once released, it would mark the most significant upgrade to the product since its initial introduction accelerated a wave of digital assistants more than a decade ago.Amazon is set to release its long-awaited - and delayed - Alexa generative artificial intelligence voice service, said three people familiar with the matter, and has scheduled a press event for later this month to preview it. Once released, it would mark the most significant upgrade to the product since its initial introduction accelerated a wave of digital assistants more than a decade ago. Amazon on Wednesday sent press invites to an event to be held on February 26 in New York featuring the head of its devices and services team, Panos Panay. A spokesperson said the event is Alexa-focused, while declining to elaborate. The new generative AI-powered Alexa represents at once a huge opportunity for Amazon, which counts more than half a billion Alexa-enabled devices in the market, and a tremendous risk. Amazon is hoping the revamp, designed to be able to converse with users, can convert some of its hundreds of millions of users into paying customers in an effort to generate a return for the unprofitable business. The AI service will be able to respond to multiple prompts in sequence and, company executives have said, even act as an "agent" on behalf of users by taking actions for them without their direct involvement. That contrasts with the current iteration, which generally handles only a single request at a time. Executives have scheduled a meeting, known as a "Go/No-go," for February 14. There they will make a final decision on the "street readiness" of Alexa's generative AI revamp, according to the people and an internal planning document seen by Reuters. Alexa's revamp carries with it all the challenges inherent in now-familiar generative AI chatbots from OpenAI, Alphabet and others including the possibility of fabricated answers, known as hallucinations. With access to Alexa available in cars, televisions, thermostats and mobile phones, it could become an essential daily tool for scheduling and even shopping. Initially, Amazon plans to roll out the new Alexa service to a limited number of users and will not charge for it, the people said, though it has considered a $5 to $10 monthly fee. The company will also continue to offer what it is calling "Classic Alexa," the version broadly available today for free. One of the people said Amazon has discontinued adding new offerings to Classic Alexa. Bezos' vision While Apple's Siri voice assistant preceded Alexa's 2014 release by three years, the Amazon service supercharged the acceptance of voice assistants. But for many people, Alexa is now used for little more than kitchen timers and weather updates due to its lack of significant overhauls in the last few years. Alexa is the brainchild of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who envisioned a service that would resemble the voice-activated computers on TV's "Star Trek." The hope was that once perfected, users would turn to the voice assistant for hundreds of everyday tasks like turning on lights, preheating the oven, accessing the internet, playing music, writing emails and summoning taxis. "Someday in the future - that might be years or decades away - it could answer everything that you would ever ask it," Amazon's then-chief of devices, Dave Limp, said nearly a decade ago. With those weighty expectations, the move to upgrade Alexa has suffered delays over concerns around the quality and speed of its responses, people familiar with the matter have told Reuters. Amazon dubbed the new service "Banyan" internally, as well as "Remarkable Alexa," though it was not immediately clear if the Seattle company planned on using either as a new product name. In a January Financial Times interview, Amazon executive Rohit Prasad acknowledged some of the obstacles in developing what is effectively an entirely new service, including the work to eliminate hallucinations. Analysts at Bank of America estimate Amazon could generate $600 million annually if 10% of active users, which it estimates at around 100 million devices, pay $5 per month for the service. Customer preferences The new Alexa is designed to remember customer preferences to help make music or restaurant recommendations and allow users to give multiple prompts in a single session, so that, say, one could later modify a hamburger order before it is sent out for delivery, the people said. It will be compatible with existing Alexa devices, said the people. Amazon will rely, at least in part, on artificial intelligence software from startup Anthropic - in which it has invested $8 billion - to underpin the AI in Alexa, people familiar with the matter told Reuters. In September 2023, Amazon demonstrated an early version of the souped-up Alexa, but concerns over quality caused Amazon to repeatedly push back its launch date and that rendition was never released to the public. (Reporting by Greg Bensinger in San Francisco Editing by Kenneth Li, Matthew Lewis and Chizu Nomiyama)

Amazon's Game Changer Alexa Service Arriving Before Apple's Siri Upgrade

Amazon is coming up with new-gen technologies this month. Since the voice-based AI assistant was launched, the entire attention has almost instantly shifted to this AI assistant, Alexa, that can answer almost all the queries of the users. While Alexa's sales are already great, Amazon is preparing to take it to another level with some next-gen AI updates. Amazon's is coming. While rumors have been circulating about Apple working on an updated version of , Amazon not only joined in but also launching the updated version of Alexa sooner than anyone expected. It's coming in the last of February. Reportedly, the company has scheduled a launch program on February 26 in New York to preview this upcoming device and its features. It is claimed that at that event, the head of and services division, Panos Panay, will take the stage and elaborate on the revamped Alexa model. At this point, nothing has been stated about this model's capabilities, but the rumors are indicating that maybe this new device will have the ability to respond to multiple questions at the same time. The present model only answers one question at a time, but the upcoming one will answer more than one; at least that's what tech enthusiasts think the upcoming device will do. Aside from that, this Alexa model will probably also have the 'agent' update where it can manage complex tasks, prompts, and day-to-day conversations without any errors. Even the speculations suggest that the upcoming model will also have an advanced feature to personalize experience by memorizing the choices and preferences of users.

Here is the new Alexa with a subscription: Coming very soon!

Amazon is set to unveil a next-generation, AI-powered version of its Alexa voice assistant on February 26, according to multiple reports. The upgraded Alexa, which aims to handle multiple sequential commands and act as a user "agent," marks the most significant update since the assistant's debut over a decade ago. The revamped Alexa will be capable of responding to multiple prompts in sequence, contrasting with the current version that typically handles only one request at a time. Executives have described the new system as an "agent" that can take actions on behalf of users without direct involvement. However, development challenges have plagued the project, including issues like setting timers correctly and addressing concerns about response quality and speed. Amazon has internally referred to the project as "Banyan" and "Remarkable Alexa," though it remains unclear if these names will be used publicly. Amazon plans to initially roll out the new Alexa to a limited number of users for free, though the company has considered charging a monthly fee of $5 to $10. The existing version, now called "Classic Alexa," will remain available at no cost. One source indicated that Amazon has stopped adding new features to Classic Alexa as it focuses on the generative AI upgrade. To power the new Alexa, Amazon is leveraging artificial intelligence software from Anthropic, a startup in which it has invested $8 billion. The AI-driven assistant is designed to remember user preferences, enabling personalized music or restaurant recommendations and allowing modifications to requests within a single session. Compatibility with existing Alexa devices will ensure a seamless transition for users. Despite its potential, the new Alexa carries risks common to generative AI systems, such as the possibility of fabricated answers or "hallucinations." These challenges were among the reasons Amazon repeatedly delayed the launch after demonstrating an early version in September 2023. Concerns over quality led to further postponements, and the rendition shown last year was never released to the public. Alexa originated from Jeff Bezos' vision of creating a voice-activated assistant akin to those seen in "Star Trek." While Alexa accelerated the adoption of voice assistants following its 2014 release, its usage has plateaued in recent years, often limited to basic tasks like setting timers and checking weather updates. Amazon hopes the generative AI upgrade will reinvigorate user interest and convert some of its hundreds of millions of Alexa-enabled devices into paying customers. Executives are scheduled to hold a final "Go/No-go" meeting on February 14 to assess the readiness of the new Alexa service. If approved, the rollout could position Amazon to capitalize on a significant market opportunity. Analysts estimate the company could generate $600 million annually if 10% of active users, estimated at around 100 million devices, opt for a $5 monthly subscription.

Amazon Plans to Unveil Next-Generation Alexa AI Later This Month

Amazon today sent out invites for an AI-focused event that will be held on February 26, and according to Reuters, the company plans to introduce its next-generation Alexa generative AI service. Since Amazon introduced Alexa in 2014, it has become one of the most widely available voice assistants, but it has been falling behind with the proliferation of generative AI products like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. Revamping Alexa into a generative AI service will mark the biggest change Amazon has made to the product since its launch. Alexa will be able to hold complex, context-aware conversations with users, and will be able to handle multi-faceted requests. Amazon is using AI models from Anthropic's Claude rather than relying solely on its in-house AI technology, as early versions of Amazon AI had trouble responding in a timely manner. Amazon initially planned to roll out the updated version of Alexa last year, but ended up pushing the debut back. It is important for Amazon to get changes to Alexa right, because there are more than 100 million active Alexa users and over 500 million Alexa-enabled devices have been sold. Amazon is aiming to convert some of those Alexa users into paying customers, with plans to eventually charge a subscription fee for the new Alexa. At launch, Amazon will test the new Alexa with a small number of users and won't charge for it. The new version of Amazon Alexa will come just ahead of when we are expecting Apple to begin testing a new iteration of Siri that's equipped with new Apple Intelligence capabilities. Apple says that Siri is going to be updated with on-screen awareness, personal context, and the ability to do more in and with apps, all of which are expected to allow Siri to do more for iPhone, iPad, and Mac users. Next year, rumors suggest Apple will roll out an updated version of Siri trained using large language models, so Siri will be able to better compete with ChatGPT and chatbots.

Amazon set to release long-delayed Alexa generative AI revamp

Amazon is set to release its long-awaited -- and delayed -- Alexa generative artificial intelligence voice service, said three people familiar with the matter, and has scheduled a media event for later this month to preview it. Once released, it would mark the most significant upgrade to the product since its initial introduction accelerated a wave of digital assistants more than a decade ago. Amazon on Wednesday sent media invites to an event to be held on Feb. 26 in New York featuring the head of its devices and services team, Panos Panay. A spokesperson said the event is Alexa-focused, while declining to elaborate. The new generative AI-powered Alexa represents at once a huge opportunity for Amazon, which counts more than half a billion Alexa-enabled devices in the market, and a tremendous risk. Amazon is hoping the revamp, designed to be able to converse with users, can convert some of its hundreds of millions of users into paying customers in an effort to generate a return for the unprofitable business. The AI service will be able to respond to multiple prompts in sequence and, company executives have said, even act as an "agent" on behalf of users by taking actions for them without their direct involvement. That contrasts with the current iteration, which generally handles only a single request at a time. Executives have scheduled a meeting, known as a "Go/No-go," for Feb. 14. There, they will make a final decision on the "street readiness" of Alexa's generative AI revamp, according to the people and an internal planning document seen by Reuters. Alexa's revamp carries with it all the challenges inherent in now-familiar generative AI chatbots from OpenAI, Alphabet and others, including the possibility of fabricated answers, known as hallucinations. With access to Alexa available in cars, televisions, thermostats and mobile phones, it could become an essential daily tool for scheduling and even shopping. Initially, Amazon plans to roll out the new Alexa service to a limited number of users and will not charge for it, the people said, though it has considered a $5 to $10 monthly fee. The company will also continue to offer what it is calling "Classic Alexa," the version broadly available today for free. One of the people said Amazon has discontinued adding new offerings to Classic Alexa. While Apple's Siri voice assistant preceded Alexa's 2014 release by three years, the Amazon service supercharged the acceptance of voice assistants. But for many people, Alexa is now used for little more than kitchen timers and weather updates due to its lack of significant overhauls in the last few years. Alexa is the brainchild of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who envisioned a service that would resemble the voice-activated computers on TV's "Star Trek." The hope was that once perfected, users would turn to the voice assistant for hundreds of everyday tasks like turning on lights, preheating the oven, accessing the internet, playing music, writing emails and summoning taxis. "Someday in the future -- that might be years or decades away -- it could answer everything that you would ever ask it," Amazon's then-chief of devices, Dave Limp, said nearly a decade ago. With those weighty expectations, the move to upgrade Alexa has suffered delays over concerns around the quality and speed of its responses, people familiar with the matter have said. Amazon dubbed the new service "Banyan" internally, as well as "Remarkable Alexa," though it was not immediately clear if the Seattle company planned on using either as a new product name. In a January Financial Times interview, Amazon executive Rohit Prasad acknowledged some of the obstacles in developing what is effectively an entirely new service, including the work to eliminate hallucinations. Analysts at Bank of America estimate Amazon could generate $600 million annually if 10% of active users, which it estimates at around 100 million devices, pay $5 per month for the service. The new Alexa is designed to remember customer preferences to help make music or restaurant recommendations and allow users to give multiple prompts in a single session, so that, say, one could later modify a hamburger order before it is sent out for delivery, the people said. It will be compatible with existing Alexa devices, said the people. Amazon will rely, at least in part, on artificial intelligence software from startup Anthropic -- in which it has invested $8 billion -- to underpin the AI in Alexa, people familiar with the matter said. In September 2023, Amazon demonstrated an early version of the souped-up Alexa, but concerns over quality caused Amazon to repeatedly push back its launch date and that rendition was never released to the public.

Amazon set to release long-delayed Alexa generative AI revamp

Amazon is set to release its long-awaited - and delayed - Alexa generative artificial intelligence voice service, said three people familiar with the matter, and has scheduled a press event for later this month to preview it. Once released, it would mark the most significant upgrade to the product since its initial introduction accelerated a wave of digital assistants more than a decade ago. Amazon on Wednesday sent press invites to an event to be held on Feb. 26 in New York featuring the head of its devices and services team, Panos Panay. A spokesperson said the event is Alexa-focused, while declining to elaborate. The new generative AI-powered Alexa represents at once a huge opportunity for Amazon, which counts more than half a billion Alexa-enabled devices in the market, and a tremendous risk. Amazon is hoping the revamp, designed to be able to converse with users, can convert some of its hundreds of millions of users into paying customers in an effort to generate a return for the unprofitable business. The AI service will be able to respond to multiple prompts in sequence and, company executives have said, even act as an "agent" on behalf of users by taking actions for them without their direct involvement. That contrasts with the current iteration, which generally handles only a single request at a time. Executives have scheduled a meeting, known as a "Go/No-go," for Feb. 14. There they will make a final decision on the "street readiness" of Alexa's generative AI revamp, according to the people and an internal planning document seen by Reuters. Alexa's revamp carries with it all the challenges inherent in now-familiar generative AI chatbots from OpenAI, Alphabet and others including the possibility of fabricated answers, known as hallucinations. With access to Alexa available in cars, televisions, thermostats and mobile phones, it could become an essential daily tool for scheduling and even shopping. Initially, Amazon plans to roll out the new Alexa service to a limited number of users and will not charge for it, the people said, though it has considered a $5 to $10 monthly fee. The company will also continue to offer what it is calling "Classic Alexa," the version broadly available today for free. One of the people said Amazon has discontinued adding new offerings to Classic Alexa.

Amazon Set to Release Long-Delayed Alexa Generative AI Revamp

Amazon plans to roll out the new Alexa service to limited users Amazon is set to release its long-awaited - and delayed - Alexa generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) voice service, said three people familiar with the matter, and has scheduled a press event for later this month to preview it. Once released, it would mark the most significant upgrade to the product since its initial introduction accelerated a wave of digital assistants more than a decade ago. Amazon on Wednesday sent press invites to an event to be held on February 26 in New York featuring the head of its devices and services team, Panos Panay. A spokesperson said the event is Alexa-focused, while declining to elaborate. The new generative AI-powered Alexa represents at once a huge opportunity for Amazon, which counts more than half a billion Alexa-enabled devices in the market, and a tremendous risk. Amazon is hoping the revamp, designed to be able to converse with users, can convert some of its hundreds of millions of users into paying customers in an effort to generate a return for the unprofitable business. The AI service will be able to respond to multiple prompts in sequence and, company executives have said, even act as an "agent" on behalf of users by taking actions for them without their direct involvement. That contrasts with the current iteration, which generally handles only a single request at a time. Executives have scheduled a meeting, known as a "Go/No-go," for February 14. There they will make a final decision on the "street readiness" of Alexa's generative AI revamp, according to the people and an internal planning document seen by Reuters. Alexa's revamp carries with it all the challenges inherent in now-familiar generative AI chatbots from OpenAI, Alphabet and others including the possibility of fabricated answers, known as hallucinations. With access to Alexa available in cars, televisions, thermostats and mobile phones, it could become an essential daily tool for scheduling and even shopping. Initially, Amazon plans to roll out the new Alexa service to a limited number of users and will not charge for it, the people said, though it has considered a $5 (roughly Rs. 437) to $10 (roughly Rs. 875) monthly fee. The company will also continue to offer what it is calling "Classic Alexa," the version broadly available today for free. One of the people said Amazon has discontinued adding new offerings to Classic Alexa. Bezos' Vision While Apple's Siri voice assistant preceded Alexa's 2014 release by three years, the Amazon service supercharged the acceptance of voice assistants. But for many people, Alexa is now used for little more than kitchen timers and weather updates due to its lack of significant overhauls in the last few years. Alexa is the brainchild of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who envisioned a service that would resemble the voice-activated computers on TV's "Star Trek." The hope was that once perfected, users would turn to the voice assistant for hundreds of everyday tasks like turning on lights, preheating the oven, accessing the internet, playing music, writing emails and summoning taxis. "Someday in the future - that might be years or decades away - it could answer everything that you would ever ask it," Amazon's then-chief of devices, Dave Limp, said nearly a decade ago. With those weighty expectations, the move to upgrade Alexa has suffered delays over concerns around the quality and speed of its responses, people familiar with the matter have told Reuters. Amazon dubbed the new service "Banyan" internally, as well as "Remarkable Alexa," though it was not immediately clear if the Seattle company planned on using either as a new product name. In a January Financial Times interview, Amazon executive Rohit Prasad acknowledged some of the obstacles in developing what is effectively an entirely new service, including the work to eliminate hallucinations. Analysts at Bank of America estimate Amazon could generate $600 million (roughly Rs. 5,251 crore) annually if 10 percent of active users, which it estimates at around 100 million devices, pay $5 (roughly Rs. 437) per month for the service. Customer Preferences The new Alexa is designed to remember customer preferences to help make music or restaurant recommendations and allow users to give multiple prompts in a single session, so that, say, one could later modify a hamburger order before it is sent out for delivery, the people said. It will be compatible with existing Alexa devices, said the people. Amazon will rely, at least in part, on AI software from startup Anthropic - in which it has invested $8 billion (roughly Rs. 70,023 crore) - to underpin the AI in Alexa, people familiar with the matter told Reuters. In September 2023, Amazon demonstrated an early version of the souped-up Alexa, but concerns over quality caused Amazon to repeatedly push back its launch date and that rendition was never released to the public. © Thomson Reuters 2025

Amazon's gen AI-powered Alexa is coming - how much it could cost you

Amazon might soon reveal the next generation of Alexa, one equipped with AI skills. At a press event scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 26, the company reportedly will introduce the long-delayed and much-anticipated Alexa generative AI voice service, Reuters said on Wednesday. Citing intel from three people familiar with the matter and an internal planning document, Reuters reported that Amazon executives have a "Go/No-go" meeting slated for Feb. 14. That meeting will determine the "street readiness" of Alexa's generative AI enhancement to ensure the revamp is ready for customers. On Wednesday, Amazon sent out press invitations for the Feb. 26 event to be held in New York and hosted by former Microsoft executive Panos Panay, who now heads Amazon's devices and services team. A spokesperson confirmed to Reuters that the event will focus on Alexa but declined to provide any details. Also: The US Copyright Office's new ruling on AI art is here - and it could change everything Alexa's generative AI voice service will be able to respond to multiple prompts one after the other in a single conversation. The AI version will also act as an agent to carry out tasks on its own and remember preferences when recommending music, restaurants, and other items. As an example given by Reuters' sources, you could order a hamburger for delivery but then modify the order before your food is actually sent out. The new Alexa will be compatible with existing devices, according to the sources. Amazon will first offer the new voice service to a limited number of early users for free. Beyond that initial rollout, the company reportedly has been considering charging $5 to $10 a month for the AI-powered Alexa. The free version, to be called Classic Alexa, would still be available at no cost. Alexa currently can handle a wide variety of requests. I use Alexa for several tasks, including playing music, providing weather forecasts, setting a timer or reminder, playing games, controlling smart home devices, and even ordering products. But it still seems limited compared with the AI services offered by OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google. For example, Alexa currently can handle only one request at a time and lacks the conversational skills of a true AI chatbot. Also: The best Alexa smart speaker I've tested isn't an Echo (and it's 20% off) An infusion of AI could prompt people to turn to Alexa more often. The new version may also help Amazon financially. Since its inception, Alexa has been a money loser, costing the company billions of dollars. Charging a monthly fee may start to reverse that trend, assuming enough customers sign up. Bank of America analysts have forecast that Amazon could bring in $600 million each year if only 10% of active Alexa users, with around 100 million devices, pay $5 a month for the service. An AI Alexa has been in the works for a while. Amazon first announced such plans in late 2023 with an expected launch in 2024. But the project has suffered delays, which Reuters' sources blamed on concerns over the quality and speed of the responses. With the official unveiling seemingly set, we'll have to see if an Alexa with AI powers will be worth the wait.

Amazon's AI-powered Alexa is almost ready to take on Gemini and Siri

Summary Amazon is hosting an Alexa-focused event on February 26. AI upgrades should make Alexa more conversational and personalized. Reports suggest Amazon will use Anthropic's AI to enhance Alexa's abilities. Over the last year or so, Google and Apple have given their voice assistants AI-powered upgrades to make them smarter and more powerful. Gemini has nearly replaced Google Assistant on Android, while Siri has received a slight intelligence boost thanks to AI. Meanwhile, Amazon has largely stayed out of the AI race, with Alexa seeing little to no significant upgrades. This will finally change, as Amazon has scheduled an Alexa-focused event for February 26. Related Best Amazon Alexa-compatible smart home devices in 2025 Make smart home automation easy with Alexa Posts The e-commerce giant only sent out press invites announcing an event later this month. An Amazon spokesperson confirmed to Reuters that Alexa would be the show's star, signaling the arrival of its long overdue AI upgrade. If Gemini and ChatGPT Voice are any indication, the new AI-powered Alexa should be much more conversational. It should also excel at understanding natural language and context while seamlessly processing multiple commands at once. Reportedly, the new Alexa will also be able to act as an "agent" and take action on your behalf. According to the report, insiders at Amazon reveal that the company will rely on Anthropic's AI engine to some extent to power the new Alexa experience. Reports of Amazon using Anthropic's Claude AI engine to supercharge Alexa first popped up in October 2024. It will seemingly be good at remembering user preferences, allowing the assistant to make personalized recommendations. The new AI-powered Alexa will initially roll out to a limited set of users for free. It will run on existing Amazon devices with access to Alexa and will not require any hardware upgrades. The smarter Alexa experience may not come for free Close As previously reported, Amazon is considering introducing a monthly subscription fee of $5 to $10 for its AI-powered voice assistant in the future. Reportedly, the company plans to retain "Classic Alexa" as a free alternative for users who prefer not to pay. However, the older version will likely no longer receive feature updates. Amazon's plans are still subject to change, as the company will hold a "Go/No-go" meeting on February 14 to decide about the launch of the AI-powered Alexa, depending on its "street readiness."

Amazon drops unsubtle hints that Alexa AI is landing soon - 3 things to expect from the new voice assistant

Amazon invites literally spell out 'Alexa' teasing a major update Amazon sent out invites to a big product launch event in New York City yesterday that contained plenty of Alexa hints (including a familiar shade of blue). And now some details hidden in the invite, plus some fresh rumors, have given us a clearer idea of what to expect on February 26. We missed the first Alexa AI hint because it's impossible to spot when looking at a single invite. But take one of each of the five different invite styles Amazon distributed and you'll see they spell "alexa" - with our odd-looking 'a' actually being an 'e'. The puzzle was cracked by The Verge. This means that Amazon is all-but-guaranteed to to show off the long-awaited, next-gen Alexa that we've been waiting for on February 26 - and we might even see some new hardware for this AI to call home. We've also now got some potential details on exactly what Alexa AI will do. According to Reuters - which cites three people familiar with the project - the new and improved Alexa assistant will have a few key upgrades. Firstly, it'll seemingly be better at understanding natural speech and the context of your requests as the new AI will be able to respond to multiple prompts in a sequence. We're not sure precisely how this will look, but we're imagining a cooking environment where you quickly ask Alexa to start a timer for 30 minutes, plus a recipe to prepare the next part of your meal, and for it to play a relaxing playlist to help you handle the pressure a little more easily. Rather than saying 'Hey Alexa' between each prompt, you could just ask them back-to-back like you can with a service like Gemini Live. Next, it's said that Alexa will be able to serve as an AI agent - meaning it can perform tasks on behalf of users without needing their direct involvement. Again, it's not clear what form this will take, but perhaps Alexa will learn your routines and automatically turn off smart lights if it knows you aren't home. That said, we're a little timid about Alexa being able to act autonomously - without the right protections, an Agent with access to our credit card and the world's biggest online marketplace sounds like a recipe for disaster. Lastly, while Alexa's AI upgrade will seemingly be free with limited usage at first, Amazon has reportedly floated the idea of charging $5-$10 a month for it (probably around £5-£10 / AU$8-AU$16). Thankfully, classic Alexa could remain as an always available free option. Based on the leaks so far, we aren't convinced that Alexa AI will be useful enough to justify paying for. It doesn't sound quite significant enough to tempt people who only use it as a voice-activated timer and light switch, but Amazon could give us more compelling reasons when February 26 rolls around. You might have missed it in the buzz caused by the likes of ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Apple Intelligence and DeepSeek, but Alexa has been surprisingly absent from the AI revolution. The smart speaker assistant once synonymous with at-home AI now feels decidedly dumb as it struggles to engage in natural conversation with the same fluidity as Gemini Live, and with answers to queries that contain far less depth than the likes of GPT-4o. This is apparently not through lack of trying. Reports have suggested that "technical challenges" have held Alexa's next-gen upgrade back as it struggled with frequent hallucinations (when an AI makes up information, or makes a mistake) as well as continuing to perform the basic smart home tasks Alexa can do right now (such as turning on smart lights). These snags apparently set the AI's release date back to 2025, but it appears Amazon is finally ready to make its efforts public.

Report: Amazon tipped to ship revamped Alexa AI updates later this month - SiliconANGLE

Report: Amazon tipped to ship revamped Alexa AI updates later this month Amazon.com Inc.'s Alexa team is inviting journalists to attend a big product event in New York City later this month, where it's expected to announce more advanced artificial intelligence capabilities for its popular digital assistant. One of Amazon's key Alexa executives, Panos Panay, who is senior vice president of devices and services at the company, is promised to be in attendance at the event, which is set to take place on Feb. 26. The company has confirmed it will announce news from the Alexa team, but hasn't said much beyond that. Nonetheless, it's well known that Amazon has been working to beef up the AI capabilities of its voice-activated Alexa assistant for some time. The company needs to do this, for Alexa is facing stiff competition from rival companies such as OpenAI, Google LLC and Microsoft Corp., whose own AI offerings all compete with Alexa to a certain extent. Amazon was handing out invites to select members of the press as Reuters reported that executives have scheduled a "Go/No-go" meeting for Feb. 14 to prepare for the release of a new version of Alexa. One possible update might be the "Let's Chat" feature that was first shown off in a preview of a redesigned Alexa in 2023. During that demo, it showcased a surprisingly humanlike conversation between the voice assistant and an Amazon executive. But the company didn't say at the time when customers might expect to see those enhanced conversational capabilities. Last year, the company canceled its traditional fall event, where it has previously always announced new products. The suggestion is that Alexa's new conversational AI capabilities were delayed, but that doesn't mean the company has stopped working on them. Last May, a report by CNBC claimed that the company was developing new AI features for Alexa that would be powered by its homegrown Titan AI models, and said the company plans to charge users a subscription fee to access them. A later report said Alexa may also integrate Anthropic PBC's Claude large language model series. That was followed by Amazon Chief Executive Andy Jassy's comments during an earnings call in October, where he told analysts that we could see a new version of Alexa arriving in the "near future". He said at the time that his team is trying to "rearchitect the brain of Alexa" with new foundational large language models. One possible reason for the apparent delay in shipping Alexa's new AI capabilities is that Jassy has embarked on a comprehensive cost-cutting campaign over the last couple of years. As part of that effort, the company has laid off thousands of workers, including many at its devices and services unit, which leads the development of Alexa. Amazon's problem is that, although Alexa is incredibly popular, with hundreds of millions of users globally, it has struggled to monetize the service. The company's traditional model has always been to launch new devices at very low prices, then leverage them to promote additional products and services. But it hasn't worked very well for the devices business, which is believed to have racked up billions of dollars in losses over the years.

Exclusive-Amazon Set to Release Long-Delayed Alexa Generative AI Revamp

(Reuters) - Amazon is set to release its long-awaited - and delayed - Alexa generative artificial intelligence voice service, said three people familiar with the matter, and has scheduled a press event for later this month to preview it. Once released, it would mark the most significant upgrade to the product since its initial introduction accelerated a wave of digital assistants more than a decade ago. Amazon on Wednesday sent press invites to an event to be held on Feb. 26 in New York featuring the head of its devices and services team, Panos Panay. A spokesperson said the event is Alexa-focused, while declining to elaborate. The new generative AI-powered Alexa represents at once a huge opportunity for Amazon, which counts more than half a billion Alexa-enabled devices in the market, and a tremendous risk. Amazon is hoping the revamp, designed to be able to converse with users, can convert some of its hundreds of millions of users into paying customers in an effort to generate a return for the unprofitable business. The AI service will be able to respond to multiple prompts in sequence and, company executives have said, even act as an "agent" on behalf of users by taking actions for them without their direct involvement. That contrasts with the current iteration, which generally handles only a single request at a time. Executives have scheduled a meeting, known as a "Go/No-go," for Feb. 14. There they will make a final decision on the "street readiness" of Alexa's generative AI revamp, according to the people and an internal planning document seen by Reuters. Alexa's revamp carries with it all the challenges inherent in now-familiar generative AI chatbots from OpenAI, Alphabet and others including the possibility of fabricated answers, known as hallucinations. With access to Alexa available in cars, televisions, thermostats and mobile phones, it could become an essential daily tool for scheduling and even shopping. Initially, Amazon plans to roll out the new Alexa service to a limited number of users and will not charge for it, the people said, though it has considered a $5 to $10 monthly fee. The company will also continue to offer what it is calling "Classic Alexa," the version broadly available today for free. One of the people said Amazon has discontinued adding new offerings to Classic Alexa. (Reporting by Greg Bensinger in San Francisco; Editing by Kenneth Li and Matthew Lewis)

Amazon's 'Remarkable Alexa' Is Coming -- Here's What To Expect From The AI Overhaul And Its Potential $10 Monthly Fee - Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN)

Amazon.com, Inc. AMZN is gearing up to introduce a major AI upgrade to its Alexa voice assistant with a press event reportedly in New York on Feb. 26. What Happened: Internally known as "Banyan" or "Remarkable Alexa," the upgrade has experienced delays due to concerns about response quality and speed. A final decision on its readiness is anticipated on Feb. 14 during a "Go/No-go" meeting, reported Reuters. The enhanced Alexa is designed to improve user interaction by processing multiple prompts in sequence and functioning as an "agent" for users. This represents a shift from the current version, which typically handles one request at a time. See Also: Mark Zuckerberg Once Told Sam Altman That The Most Painful Moment In His Life Was Not Rejecting A $1 Billion Buyout Offer For Facebook But Losing An Entire Team -- Here's Why Amazon intends to initially offer the upgraded service to a limited user base for free, although a monthly fee ranging from $5 to $10 was being considered. The existing "Classic Alexa" will continue to be available at no cost, but it will not receive any new features, the report noted, citing one person familiar with the matter. Subscribe to the Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox. Why It Matters: Amazon's $8 billion investment in AI startup Anthropic will bolster the new Alexa's AI capabilities. This overhaul is viewed as a strategic effort to convert Alexa's extensive user base into paying customers, addressing the current service's lack of profitability, the report added. The Alexa division has been grappling with profitability issues, reportedly incurring a $5 billion loss in 2022. According to Bank of America, the success of "Remarkable Alexa" is crucial, as further investment cuts could occur if the paid version does not gain traction. Last month, OpenAI's ChatGPT also entered the virtual assistant market with its "Tasks" feature, challenging established players like Amazon's Alexa, Apple's Siri, and Google's Assistant. Apple Inc. AAPL has chosen to integrate its "Apple Intelligence" into Siri, using the capabilities of ChatGPT. In 2023, Alphabet Inc.'s GOOG GOOGL Google Assistant was upgraded with the features of Bard, which has since been rebranded as Gemini. Image via Shutterstock Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by following this link. Read Next: Google Joins Meta, Amazon In Winding Up DEI Hiring -- Memo Reveals Details Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. AAPLApple Inc$232.20-0.26%Overview Rating:Good75%Technicals Analysis1000100Financials Analysis600100WatchlistOverviewAMZNAmazon.com Inc$237.08-2.06%GOOGAlphabet Inc$193.40-6.89%GOOGLAlphabet Inc$191.50-7.21%Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

Is the new AI-powered Alexa almost here? 6 things to know

There's a strong chance we'll see the new Alexa with retooled AI abilities before the month is out. Here's the latest chatter. It's been well more than a year since Amazon gave us a glimpse of a revamped Alexa, complete with an AI overhaul under the hood. Now there are signs that the AI-powered Alexa is almost ready for prime time. Journalists (including me) awoke this morning to invitations from Amazon for a "Devices and Services" event hosted by Panos Panay, the ex-Microsoft exec who's now in charge of Amazon's Amazon and Echo divisions. Amazon raised eyebrows last September when it skipped its traditional fall hardware event, so this latest invite quite naturally set the Alexa rumor mill abuzz. So, what do we know about this upcoming Amazon event, and what should we expect in terms of the next Alexa? Let's start with... The tech press will gather three weeks from yesterday in a Tribeca event space to see... well, something from Amazon's Devices and Services group. The date is roughly four months after Amazon normally would have held a full-on hardware event. (Amazon held a smaller Kindle event in October.) Amazon is staying coy about what exactly we'll see on February 26. The blue invite card itself simply says "Join us," with the event's when-and-where details. That said, a spokesperson told Reuters that the upcoming event will be "Alexa focused," which is a pretty big hint. Now's where we head into rumors and speculation. Reuters, which says Amazon will show us the new Alexa at the event (pending a "go/no-go" meeting in the middle of the month), reports that the revamped assistant will roll out to a "limited" number of users at first. That's not a huge shock, since Apple and Google are taking a similarly careful approach when it comes to introducing AI to their respective smart home services. Amazon has previously floated the idea of charging extra for a new, AI-enhanced version of Alexa, with some estimates putting the price tag in the $5- to $10-per-month range. But according to another Reuters scoop, Amazon will probably not change for the new Alexa during its initial rollout. Of course, what happens after that is up in the air. If you were dazzled by the new Alexa demo we got during Amazon's 2023 hardware event, keep in mind that it was just that: a demo, not a ready-to-ship product. Subsequent stories have put more emphasis on the new Alexa's ability to act as an AI "agent" that can fulfill multiple requests, rather than as a loquacious companion with serious HAL vibes. Amazon has long said that even with a new (and potentially paid) AI Alexa in the works, the "classic" Alexa isn't going anywhere, and that it will remain free. That still seems to be the case, with the most recent Reuters story saying that a free "classic" Alexa will still be on the menu Whatever happens, I'll be on the ground in New York to witness whatever Amazon ends up unveiling. Stay tuned.

Report: Amazon to Introduce GenAI-Powered Alexa on Feb. 26 | PYMNTS.com

The company sent out invitations to a Feb. 26 event featuring the head of its devices and services team, Panos Panay, and the event is expected to preview the new Alexa, Reuters reported Wednesday (Feb. 5), citing unnamed sources. An Amazon spokesperson told Reuters only that the event is "Alexa-focused," according to the report. A new Alexa would be the most significant upgrade of the product since its introduction in 2014 and would be the first powered by generative AI, the report said. The generative AI-powered version of the voice assistant will be able to respond to more than one request at a time, take actions on behalf of users without their direct involvement, and remember their preferences when recommending music or restaurants, per the report. The new service will be compatible with existing Alexa devices, according to the report. Amazon plans to offer it to a limited number of users at first, and will continue to offer the current version, the report said. It was reported in January that Amazon was turning Alexa into an AI agent while working over the past two years to replace the voice assistant's "brain" with generative AI. The company was working to clear several technical hurdles before launch, such as "hallucinations" or fabricated answers, response speed and reliability. An Amazon spokesperson told PYMNTS in January: "Our vision for Alexa is to build the world's best personal assistant. Generative AI offers a huge opportunity to make Alexa even better for our customers, and we are working hard to enable even more proactive and capable assistance on the over half-a-billion Alexa-enabled devices already in homes around the world." PYMNTS Intelligence found in April 2023 that 27% of consumers had used a voice-activated device or speaker in the previous 12 months and that 54% of consumers would prefer voice technology in the future because it is faster than typing or using a touchscreen. In addition, 22% of Gen Z consumers would be "highly willing" to pay more than $10 a month to use a voice assistant as smart and reliable as a real person, according to "How Consumers Want to Live in the Voice Economy."

Amazon Set to Finally Unveil AI-Enhanced Alexa at Feb. 26 Event

Amazon will host an event on Feb. 26 that may include the launch of a revamped Alexa the company has been teasing for more than a year. Amazon typically holds an event each fall to launch its latest Echo devices ahead of the holiday shopping season, but this month's event in New York City appears poised to focus more on software. It will be hosted by SVP Panos Panay, who jumped ship from Microsoft in 2023, and the Amazon Devices & Services team. At first glance, the invitation doesn't seem to give much away. It features Amazon's smile logo above "You're invited" and the date of the event. There's a blue background with lighter-color looping script, which matches the blue glow of Alexa. As The Verge notes, Amazon sent out five different invites that all feature different parts of the looping script. When they're placed next to each other, they spell out "Alexa" in the background. PCMag's invite appears to include the "X." Amazon first teased a revamped, AI Alexa at its fall event in 2023 and was supposed to release it the following year. However, the launch date was reportedly pushed to 2025. Reuters reports that the product is finally ready for launch and can converse with users and respond to multiple prompts in a sequence. It can also act as an "agent" and autonomously take actions on the user's behalf. It is also designed to remember user preferences and provide music or restaurant recommendations accordingly. To enable all of these features, Amazon might rely on Anthropic's AI models. The improved voice assistant will be made available on all Alexa-compatible devices, sources tell Reuters. It will likely be free at launch for a limited number of users before Amazon charges a monthly subscription fee of $5 to $10 at a later date. To avoid confusion, the non-AI Alexa may be called "Alexa Classic." Things have not been finalized yet, Reuters adds. A high-level internal meeting scheduled for Feb. 14, known as "Go/No-go," will decide the offerings at the Feb. 26 event.

Conversational Alexa being unveiled on Feb 26, as Siri waits until 2026

A new conversational Alexa is expected to be revealed at an Amazon media event on February 26, with press invitations sent out yesterday. A report citing Amazon insiders says that the all-new Alexa will be powered by generative AI, dramatically boosting its capabilities and putting even more pressure on Apple to launch a smarter Siri ... Officially all we know is that Amazon is holding an "Alexa-focused" event, but it's not hard to guess that will be to announce generative AI features, and a Reuters report cites company execs confirming this. The AI service will be able to respond to multiple prompts in sequence and, company executives have said, even act as an "agent" on behalf of users by taking actions for them without their direct involvement. That contrasts with the current iteration, which generally handles only a single request at a time [...] The new Alexa is designed to remember customer preferences to help make music or restaurant recommendations and allow users to give multiple prompts in a single session, so that, say, one could later modify a hamburger order before it is sent out for delivery, the people said. The souped-up Alexa will be available on all existing devices. A report last year suggested that the new Alexa will be powered by Anthropic, and Reuters echoes this. What's currently unclear is how many Alexa users will get access to the new version in the early stages. Reuters says it will initially be offered to "a limited number of users" without charge, but the goal is to turn it into an optional subscription service costing $5 to $10 per month. Those who choose not to subscribe will continue to get access to the existing version, which will be rebranded as Classic Alexa. While Apple device owners are used to complaining about Siri's limited capabilities, many Echo users have long had similar complaints about Alexa. We've explained in the past that although Alexa claims to be able to do thousands of things, that isn't true in real-life use. A new conversational Alexa that really can do all of the things we expect from chatbots like ChatGPT would be a game-changer for Amazon's intelligent assistant, and would dramatically increase the pressure on Apple to make Siri smarter. Right now, Siri has gained a few more capabilities through the first iteration of Apple Intelligence, but these are very limited in scope. The next major change is expected in April, with iOS 18.4 set to include the launch of on-screen awareness and "app intents." Onscreen awareness means you'll be able to make Siri requests that reference things you're looking at, and the assistant will know how to make sense of your words. So for example, if your sister sends you her new address in an iMessage, you can simply say, "Add this address to her contact," and Siri will do it with no further clarifying instructions. Using a system called App Intents, iOS 18.4 will enable Siri to perform hundreds of new app actions -- without ever needing to open the apps themselves. What will be even more impressive is Siri's ability to perform these actions across different apps. For example, you'll be able to ask Siri to find a specific photo, apply edits to it, then drop that photo into a specific folder in the Files app -- all using just your voice. However, the all-new generative AI Siri isn't expected to launch until iOS 19 - and even then, not initially. Bloomberg has reported that we won't be able to use it until spring 2026. Long-term, the wait will be worth it, thanks to Apple's privacy-focused approach. But that year-and-a-bit wait is going to see Apple take a lot of flack, all the more so once the new Alexa launches.

Amazon's AI supercharged Alexa could be unveiled this month - Phandroid

Amazon has sent out invites for a mysterious event scheduled for the 26th of February. This has led to speculation about what the tech giant has in store. While the invite itself doesn't explicitly mention Alexa, its swirly patterns and vibrant colors hint at something to do with the digital assistant. Could Amazon be finally ready to unveil its AI supercharged Alexa? Back in 2023, Amazon announced plans to revamp Alexa with generative AI capabilities. This would allow Alexa to better compete with newer AI models such as Google's Gemini and OpenAI's ChatGPT. However, nothing has really materialized since that announcement. This upcoming event could finally show us what Amazon has been working on for the past few years. The new AI supercharged Alexa is expected to make the digital assistant even smarter and potentially more contextual. This is thanks to its generative capabilities. Alexa is currently best known for powering Amazon's lineup of smart speakers and smart displays. If done right, it could change how users interact with their smart home devices. It would also make Alexa a more valuable assistant in the smart home space. However, while this new Alexa sounds promising, Amazon has hinted that access to its advanced AI features may come at a cost. Before you get too disappointed, a report from Reuters suggests that Amazon might hold off on charging users at the start. The company might introduce a paid subscription further down the road, but for now, it will be free. Presumably the company wants to give users more time to experience the changes before deciding if it is worth paying for. Note that other companies, such as Google and OpenAI, already charge users for access to more advanced models. This move by Amazon wouldn't be entirely out of the question.

Amazon announces Alexa event on February 26 -- what we expect to see

According to a report from Reuters, Amazon sent out press invites on Wednesday for the event in New York. An Amazon spokesperson confirmed to Reuters that the event will be Alexa-focused but wouldn't offer more details on what this might mean. In recent months, there's been a lot of push to make AI assistants as capable as possible. For instance, Google has been working to improve Gemini with Gemini Live, creating a more conversational experience while improving functionality. Apple, meanwhile, has been pushing to improve the intelligence boost that Apple Intelligence brings to Siri. Amazon, in comparison, appears to have not done much to upgrade Alexa past what it was initially capable of. While Alexa is capable of helping us order from Amazon or telling us the weather, that appears to be the most capable of doing so. However, we might be able to get an indication of what changes are coming, thanks to the changes to ChatGPT and Gemini. For instance, Alexa could offer more natural feeling conversations, like we saw in Gemini Live. Amazon could also help Alexa differentiate between multiple speakers. There are also rumors that Alexa will be able to act as an "agent" for you and take actions without your direct involvement. We heard rumors back in 2024 that Amazon is planning to use Anthropic's AI to supercharge Alexa. This will, in theory, improve Alexa's ability to remember user preferences, which means better recommendations for customers when using features like Amazon Music. Now, there is some bad news as it seems that Amazon reportedly plans to offer this improved AI under a $5 to $10 monthly fee. However, the current iteration of Amazon Alexa, which will be called "Classic Alexa," will still be available to users for free. For now, we can only wait and see what is announced during the event, but this could be a big shakeup to the AI Assistant market.