Amazon Unveils Gen AI-Powered 'Alexa+' with Agentic Abilities

New information surfaced that on February 26, during the Devices and Services Event that took place in New York, a new digital assistant called Alexa+ was introduced. Furthermore, the digital assistant utilizes generative artificial intelligence which means that it is capable of understanding natural speech, personalizing conversations, and being an agent.

Here is all the essential details about the new digital assistant that was infused with AI technology. 

Amazon ensured that alongside offering new features, Alexa remains a conversational digital assistant. With the incorporation of Generative AI, Alexa+ makes sure that conversations are smoother and more natural. One of the other key upgrades is personalization - Alexa+ learns user preferences over time, including dietary restrictions, allergies, and more.

The digital assistant is also able to preform agentic tasks on behalf of the user. According to Amazon, Alexa+ is able to assist with event organizing, online shopping, and travel bookings assistance like ordering transportation through Uber or making dinner reservations through OpenTable. 

Another distinguishable aspect is the analysis of documents and emails. For example, users have the ability to upload files that contain materials to study for and recipes and although not currently confirmed, that makes Alexa+ capable of gathering, summarizing, or generating events that are relevant to the content. Users are also able to forward emails that contain certain queries so that Alexa+ can retrieve the vital information to respond to the inquiry.

Other notable features include the ability to: Construct elaborate routines with voice commands. Change devices while music is playing on another. Use Alexa’s voice command to move to designated parts of Prime Video. Provide a summary of happenings inside as well as outside the house through the Ring security cameras. Amazon made sure to build this advanced architecture so Alexa would be able to provide those advanced features.

Alexa designed these features because rather than using one singular large language model, Amazon’s Alexa+ uses numerous models including Nova and Anthropic’s Claude.

Also, Amazon claimed that they had to extend the native functionalities of these LLM’s to integrate with third party Uber, Spotify, Apple Music, Netflix, Disney+, and TripAdvisor. In order to allow agentic actions, Alexa+ is capable of browsing web pages and performing actions with little to no help from the user.

In the next few weeks, Alexa will first be made available in the United States. Following that will be select Echo Show devices such as the Show 8, 10, 15, 21, and 21. Alexa will first be released to Amzons prime members, and afterwards to the general public for a price of $19.99 a month.