The Future of Smart Assistants: Amazon’s Alexa Plus Revolutionizes Conversational AI
In a recent event, Amazon unveiled its latest innovation in smart assistants – Alexa Plus, a new and improved conversational AI that’s set to change the game. As the U.S. Editor-in-Chief for Tom’s Guide, I’ve had the privilege of attending Amazon’s Devices and services events for over a decade, and I’m excited to share the highlights of this latest development.
What is Alexa Plus?
Alexa Plus is not just an upgrade to the original Alexa, but a completely new and augmented AI assistant that can do more things on your behalf. With its advanced conversational capabilities, Alexa Plus can perform multiple tasks in sequence, making it a game-changer for smart home automation and daily life.
Key Features and Updates
One of the most exciting features of Alexa Plus is its ability to seamlessly integrate with tens of thousands of services, including OpenTable, allowing you to make reservations, book Uber rides, and more. Additionally, Alexa Plus will be available on compatible Echo Show devices, Fire TVs, and Fire tablets, making it a convenient and accessible addition to your smart home setup.
What Devices Will Support Alexa Plus?
Initially, Alexa Plus will be available on the following devices:
- Echo Show devices (8th generation and later)
- Fire TVs (3rd generation and later)
- Fire tablets (7th generation and later)
- Web browser
- Alexa app
What Devices Won’t Support Alexa Plus?
Unfortunately, some older Echo devices will not be compatible with Alexa Plus, but you’ll still be able to use the original Alexa. Additionally, Alexa Plus is not currently supported on Alexa Built-in devices (like the Sonos Era 100 and Ecobee Smart Thermostat) and Amazon Astro, but Amazon is working to expand support to these devices in the future.
What Can You Do with Alexa Plus?
With Alexa Plus, you’ll be able to:
- Create new Alexa Routines for your smart home using just your voice
- Get natural and conversational responses from Alexa
- Receive music and movie recommendations
- Easily move music from one room to another
- Jump directly to specific scenes in movies and TV shows
- Get detailed summaries of events detected by your smart home cameras
- Integrate with Ring’s Smart Video Search functionality
The Future of Smart Assistants
Amazon’s commitment to developing Alexa Plus is a significant step forward in the evolution of smart assistants. With its advanced conversational capabilities and seamless integrations with various services, Alexa Plus has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with our smart homes and daily lives.
Actionable Insights
If you’re an Amazon Prime subscriber, you won’t have to pay extra for Alexa Plus. However, you’ll need a recent model Echo Show device to take advantage of the new AI features. Make sure to check which devices will support Alexa Plus and plan accordingly.
Conclusion
Amazon’s Alexa Plus is a significant innovation in the world of smart assistants, offering advanced conversational capabilities and seamless integrations with various services. With its potential to revolutionize the way we interact with our smart homes and daily lives, Alexa Plus is an exciting development that’s sure to change the game. Stay tuned for our in-depth review of Alexa Plus and its capabilities.