Amazon just released its next-generation AI assistant, Alexa+, to everyone in the United States. You can now get the smarter, more talkative version of Alexa for $20 a month. However, if you already pay for Amazon Prime, you get this new upgrade for free.
Amazon’s pricing strategy is a bit interesting. Since a monthly Prime membership only costs $15, it actually makes more sense to sign up for Prime than to pay for Alexa+ as a standalone service. The company clearly wants more people to join the Prime ecosystem. If you aren’t ready to pay yet, Amazon also added a free tier that lets you chat with Alexa through text on their website, though it comes with usage limits.
This new version of Alexa does much more than just set timers or tell you the weather. It can handle back-and-forth conversations that feel more like talking to a real person. It also has new “agent” skills. This means it can help manage your busy calendar, make dinner reservations, and give you better recommendations. Amazon says the assistant learns from your habits and digital activity to give you answers that actually fit your life. To start using it, Prime members just need to say, “Alexa, upgrade to Alexa+.” You can also log in to the Alexa website to try the new features.
While the new skills sound great, not everyone is convinced. Early testers found that while the AI is impressive, it can still be inconsistent. Some reviewers mentioned that it still makes enough mistakes to be a bit annoying. Amazon says it spent the last year listening to feedback from early testers to make this nationwide version more reliable. If you have been waiting for a version of Alexa that can actually plan your day and control your home more intelligently, this is the update you’ve been waiting for.
