Amazon on Wednesday unveiled a generative AI-infused Alexa voice assistant that it says will have extra character and be capable of examine a consumer’s tone and even plan romantic dates.
However in contrast to earlier than, when Alexa was provided without cost on any Alexa-enabled system, prospects must pay Amazon a month-to-month payment of $19.99 for the revamped voice assistant, which it calls Alexa+. Nonetheless, the generative AI-powered Alexa will likely be free for Prime members, who pay the corporate a month-to-month or annual payment without cost supply and different perks.
At a media occasion in New York Metropolis, Amazon executives confirmed off the replace to the 10-year-old digital assistant with the brand new options geared toward boosting gross sales and interactions with Alexa-enabled gadgets.
The corporate says Alexa+ is ready to have conversations with a extra pure, humanlike movement and might be taught extra a couple of consumer — akin to dietary preferences or allergy symptoms — the extra it’s used.
“I’m not simply an assistant, I’m your new greatest buddy within the digital world,” Alexa+ mentioned throughout an onstage demo Wednesday.
On the occasion, Panos Panay, Amazon’s vice chairman of gadgets and providers, listed off the opposite issues the voice assistant can now do, akin to create examine plans, textual content a babysitter and name an Uber experience for a buddy. He and different firm executives additionally mentioned Alexa can fetch movies from Ring cameras — for functions akin to checking whether or not a consumer’s canine was walked that day — and is ready to keep in mind handwritten recipes, emails and different paperwork shared with it.
“She’s smarter than she’s ever been earlier than, however she’s additionally approachable,” Panay mentioned.
Alexa is constructed into merchandise akin to good audio system, Amazon’s Hearth TVs and earbuds. The Seattle-based tech big launched its well-liked voice assistant in 2014 alongside its first Echo system, which responds to voice instructions. Panay mentioned that Amazon has bought greater than 600 million Alexa-enabled gadgets and that consumer engagement grew 20% final yr in contrast with 2023. Some market estimates have proven Alexa holds the biggest market share amongst voice assistants.
The revamped Alexa makes use of massive language fashions, together with some developed by Amazon and others by Anthropic, the generative AI startup into which the tech big has poured billions. Alexa+ has a “model-agnostic system,” permitting it to pick one of the best AI mannequin for the duties at hand, mentioned Daniel Rausch, Amazon’s vice chairman for Alexa and Echo.
Amazon says it’ll kick off early entry to Alexa+, which presently is obtainable solely in English, within the U.S. subsequent month — beginning with customers who personal or buy a few of its latest Echo Present gadgets, which characteristic display screen shows of Alexa responses. It’s going to then roll out the know-how internationally to extra gadgets. Alexa+ won’t attain sure older Echo fashions — however Amazon says house owners of these gadgets can proceed to make use of the unique assistant. And customers who merely want utilizing the unique Alexa can proceed doing so, in keeping with from the corporate.
Amazon’s announcement got here greater than a yr after the corporate teased an early model of an AI-infused Alexa at a media occasion held to indicate off new gadgets. On the time, Amazon had mentioned it was engaged on a “speech to speech” mannequin that might enable Alexa to exhibit humanlike attributes, akin to laughter and phrases like “uh-huh” throughout conversations.
Through the demo on Wednesday, Amazon highlighted options it had beforehand saved underneath a lid. In a single change, Panay confirmed the brand new Alexa a video of the group within the room to check a characteristic that apparently permits it to sense the encompassing temper. Panay requested Alexa+ if the crowed “regarded pumped,” to which it responded that the roomful of journalists had been “being attentive to you and excited.”
Like its predecessor, Alexa+ is enabled when customers say the voice assistant’s title — however executives on Wednesday mentioned customers now solely must say that wake phrase as soon as earlier than having a protracted, backwards and forwards change. Nonetheless, demonstrators often mentioned “Alexa” once more if it appeared just like the voice assistant didn’t catch one thing.
Amazon competes within the good speaker market with different tech giants, together with Apple and Google.
Although it has had success in promoting gadgets, the corporate’s different aim — driving Amazon purchases by means of Alexa — has been tougher to drag off. Amazon has mentioned Alexa prospects have used their system to buy. Nonetheless, many depend on it largely for menial duties, akin to enjoying music, asking questions or checking the climate.
A subscription payment for the revamped Alexa will allow the corporate to offset prices associated to AI improvement and assist its gadgets operations grow to be extra worthwhile.
Hadero and Grantham-Philips write for the Related Press.
