All articles tagged with #alexa plus
Amazon launches the Fire TV Stick HD, its lightest, most portable streaming device yet, powered via a TV USB port, with a redesigned interface and built-in Alexa+, delivering faster performance (over 30% faster than prior HD models) and Wi‑Fi 6 with Bluetooth 5.3. Priced at $34.99, preorder starts now with shipments rolling out in more than a dozen countries starting April 29.
Verge reviewer Jennifer Pattison Tuohy says Amazon’s Alexa app redesign centers the Alexa Plus AI but makes the shopping list cluttered and fiddly, forcing more taps and exposing ads, leading her to switch to Apple’s Reminders and Siri; Amazon says the changes included test features and aims to make Alexa a generalist AI assistant.
Amazon’s Alexa Plus is now available to every US Prime member and non-Prime users across all Alexa-enabled devices, with three pricing options: Alexa Plus for Prime at $14.99/mo or $139/yr, Alexa Plus for non-Prime at $19.99/mo, and a free Alexa Plus Chat option via Alexa.com and the Alexa app. The upgrade is optional, can be reversed, and the service is expanding to Canada and Mexico, with a limited European beta planned.
Amazon leaders across roles describe practical, daily uses of AI to save time and boost productivity, from Rufus automating shopping and price tracking to Alexa+ powering music discovery, kitchen help, and smarter calendars; Kindle features and family-friendly coding illustrate AI as a practical helper.
Amazon has begun automatically upgrading Prime members’ Echo devices to Alexa Plus. The upgrade isn’t opt-in, but users can revert to the original Alexa; there’s no option to opt out of getting upgraded. Alexa Plus is an AI-powered overhaul aimed at competing with Gemini, with some users reporting ads or slower responses after the change.
Amazon has made Alexa Plus available to everyone through an early access program, allowing users to access a web interface for managing tasks, smart home devices, and entertainment, with added features like document uploads and shopping list creation, though some functionalities are still developing.
In 2025, AI-powered smart home assistants like Alexa Plus have failed to meet expectations, struggling with basic tasks and reliability despite promises of advanced, conversational capabilities. Experts attribute these issues to the inherent unpredictability of large language models (LLMs) and the challenges in integrating them with traditional command-based systems, leading to a reliance on real-world testing and gradual improvements over time.
Alexa Plus, a new AI-powered version of Amazon's voice assistant, offers more human-like conversations, better app integrations, and enhanced smart home capabilities, but comes with privacy concerns and a high cost for non-Prime users. It's highly beneficial for Prime members but may not be worth the price for others, especially given ongoing chatbot limitations.
Some users are now able to access the new Alexa Plus web interface, which offers a chatbot-like experience and smart home controls, marking a step forward in Amazon's voice assistant platform.
Amazon's new Echo Show smart displays are a significant upgrade with modern hardware, faster performance, and better screens, but their continued display of full-screen ads dampens enthusiasm. The Echo Show 8 and 11 differ mainly in size and display quality, with both supporting advanced smart home protocols and featuring improved audio and cameras.
Amazon is integrating Alexa Plus into its Music app on iOS and Android, allowing users to access advanced AI features for music discovery, detailed information, and personalized recommendations across all subscription tiers, initially available to beta testers.
Recent updates to the Amazon Echo Show have led to an increase in intrusive full-screen ads, making the device less usable and prompting some users to consider returning it. Amazon's push for ad revenue, especially with the new Alexa Plus, has resulted in ads appearing across various functions, but users can mitigate this by setting routines or changing device language settings. Despite these workarounds, the pervasive advertising raises concerns about user experience and privacy.
Amazon has launched a new Fire TV Stick 4K Select featuring its in-house VegaOS, replacing Android for faster app launching and streaming, along with new Omni QLED and 2-Series/4-Series TVs that include enhanced brightness, color adjustment, and integrated Alexa Plus AI capabilities.
Amazon's upgraded Alexa Plus will now come pre-installed on new Echo and FireTV devices, offering more natural language understanding and new features like booking reservations and controlling routines, marking a significant step in Amazon's AI assistant development, currently available in the US through early access.
Amazon announced new Fire TV models at its hardware event, including the high-end Omni QLED with improved brightness and local dimming, as well as more affordable 2 and 4-series TVs, all featuring omnisense presence detection and enhanced Alexa integration, available for preorder now and shipping next month.