Ring doorbell now uses Alexa+ Greetings AI to talk to visitors and direct delivery drivers

Amazon Introduces AI Assistant for Ring Doorbells

Amazon has rolled out Alexa+ Greetings, a new feature that transforms your Ring doorbell into an AI assistant capable of engaging in dynamic two-way conversations with visitors at your front door1

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. The feature launched today for Alexa+ Early Access customers in the US and Canada, marking a significant step beyond pre-recorded responses toward fully conversational AI-powered visitor interactions2

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The technology combines two existing Amazon capabilities: Ring Video Descriptions, which uses AI to analyze what the camera sees, and Alexa+, a beefed-up version of Alexa built on top of a large language model1

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. This integration enables the system to identify visitors based on their clothing, what they're holding, or their actions, then respond appropriately based on instructions you've configured in advance3

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How Context-Aware Conversations Work

The AI assistant for Ring doorbells operates by analyzing visual context from your doorbell camera to determine who's at the door. According to Amazon, "Ring's camera determines who's there based on what they're wearing, holding, or their actions," and "Alexa uses this visual context, any information the visitor shares, and the instructions it's been given"1

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. This approach allows the system to distinguish between delivery personnel wearing uniforms, solicitors, or friends and family members.

Homeowners can customize personalized visitor greetings through the Alexa app or by speaking to any Alexa+-enabled device. For instance, you might instruct the system: "Alexa, if I get a delivery, tell the delivery person to leave it by the side door"3

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. The system can also handle follow-up questions, such as whether a signature is required for package deliveries or providing access codes for backyard entry1

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Directing Delivery Drivers and Managing Unwanted Visitors

One practical application involves directing delivery drivers to leave packages out of sight or at alternative locations instead of the front porch1

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. The feature can detect delivery uniforms and steer conversations accordingly, asking relevant questions about signatures or special instructions. For solicitors, you can configure the system to politely decline their offers, effectively using AI to talk to visitors you'd prefer to avoid4

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When friends stop by while you're busy or away, Alexa+ Greetings can greet them warmly and ask if they'd like to leave a message, which is then delivered to you for review2

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. The system can even direct visitors to water and snacks you've laid out, demonstrating the breadth of its conversational capabilities2

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Requirements and Availability

To access Alexa+ Greetings, users need either the Ring Wired Doorbell Pro (3rd Gen) or Ring Wired Doorbell Plus (2nd Gen)5

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. An active Ring Premium Plan is required, which costs $19 per month4

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. Users must also have Ring Video Descriptions enabled and their Ring and Alexa accounts linked3

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. The feature currently operates only in English and is available exclusively in the US and Canada2

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Privacy Implications and Potential Challenges

While the convenience of an AI assistant handling smart home door duties is appealing, the feature raises privacy implications worth considering. Although Amazon states the system uses video descriptions rather than facial recognition to identify visitors, all conversational interactions are recorded and stored3

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. Users can review these conversations through the Ring app's Event History, where notifications indicate when Alexa spoke to a visitor3

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The reliance on generative AI for visitor identification also presents potential challenges. The system might misidentify someone—for example, mistaking a friend wearing work attire for delivery personnel3

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. As one analysis noted, "Most of my delivery drivers don't come to the door in full uniforms because it's winter and that would be ridiculous," highlighting how real-world conditions might affect accuracy2

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What This Means for Home Security

Amazon's move reflects the growing integration of large language model technology into home security devices. This isn't the first AI-powered doorbell assistant—earlier this year, Swann released the SwannBuddy4K with a similar feature, though reviews suggested it felt more like a gimmick than a practical tool5

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. Amazon's implementation benefits from its existing Alexa infrastructure and Ring's established presence in the smart home market.

The feature operates independently of other smart home controls, and Amazon emphasizes that it can manage interactions without revealing whether you're home1

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. As AI continues to evolve, expect more sophisticated visitor identification capabilities and potentially broader device compatibility. The current limitation to two specific Ring doorbell models suggests Amazon is testing the technology before a wider rollout, allowing the company to refine the system based on Early Access user feedback.