Amazon has launched Alexa+, a generative AI assistant, for public access via a free early access program at Alexa.com, making it available without the need for specific hardware. This move aligns Alexa+ with other popular chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini, and aims to integrate it more deeply into Amazon’s ecosystem, potentially boosting Prime subscriptions. Alexa+ offers features for organizing household tasks, smart home management, and maintaining continuity across devices, although it has been noted to have performance issues and lacks some promised functionalities. By introducing a subscription model and considering ad placements, Amazon hopes Alexa+ will become a more financially successful iteration of its AI assistant. This matters because it represents Amazon's strategic shift to enhance user engagement and profitability through advanced AI capabilities and subscription services.
