Amazon's advanced generative AI upgrade, Alexa Plus, is now accessible to over a million users, offering enhanced features like managing calendars, music control across rooms, Uber bookings, and more.
The rollout to Echo devices, starting in late March after delays, is accelerating, with wider availability planned for summer, and will eventually cost $19.99 per month or be free for Amazon Prime members.
Not all features are live due to gradual release; upcoming functionalities include Fire TV control, grocery ordering, browser access, and personalized music creation over the next few weeks and months.
Early user feedback on Alexa Plus varies, with appreciation for natural conversations but criticism for the new voice and significant smart home control bugs.
Some users have praised the conversational experience, complex request handling, and smart home device coordination, while others find the new voice tone irksome.
Reports have surfaced regarding bugs affecting smart home device control under the new Alexa Plus version which users didn't encounter with the prior Alexa service.
Mixed reactions suggest that while Alexa Plus has notable features, such as voice-based Alexa Routines and smart home customization, there are concerns about voice quality and functionality issues.
For some users, bugs in smart home control have been a significant drawback of the new Alexa Plus experience, impacting the usability of previously working devices.
Amazon's Alexa Plus service aims to offer a more interactive, personalized, and seamless voice assistant experience, catering to a diverse range of user needs.
The new service is set to provide enhanced capabilities like document information recall, music transfer between rooms, and easy management of various tasks through voice commands.
Despite initial positive feedback on Alexa Plus's conversational aspects and advanced features, concerns have emerged regarding the new voice's perceived obnoxiousness and reported bugs in smart home device control.
Lingering issues with smart home device control indicate a need for further improvements to ensure a smooth transition to the latest Alexa Plus system.
Early adopters have highlighted both the strengths and weaknesses of Amazon's Alexa Plus, emphasizing the potential of the AI-powered voice assistant while also noting areas that require refinement.
The rollout of Alexa Plus marks a significant advancement in Amazon's AI technology, introducing new capabilities and enhancing user interactions with voice-activated features.
Further updates and bug fixes are expected to address the reported bugs and fine-tune the overall user experience with the Alexa Plus platform.
User feedback will be crucial in shaping the future development of Alexa Plus, guiding Amazon in refining the service to meet user expectations and improve functionality.
Overall, the mixed reactions to Amazon's Alexa Plus underscore the complexities of introducing advanced AI features and the importance of continual updates and user feedback in refining the service.