Alexa Plus was already popping up online for some users earlier this month, and now it’s officially available to everyone through an early access program. Anyone can go sign up at Alexa.com and start playing with the new web interface for Amazon’s new AI chatbot.
Alexa Plus was already available on all new Echo devices and recently rolled out as an update to older Echoes as well. But certain tasks are just easier to do with a keyboard and mouse than they are with your voic…
Alexa Plus was already popping up online for some users earlier this month, and now it’s officially available to everyone through an early access program. Anyone can go sign up at Alexa.com and start playing with the new web interface for Amazon’s new AI chatbot.
Alexa Plus was already available on all new Echo devices and recently rolled out as an update to older Echoes as well. But certain tasks are just easier to do with a keyboard and mouse than they are with your voice. Now you can get access to Alexa while sitting at your laptop to update your to-do list or make reservations at that new Puerto Rican spot that recently opened up.
One of the big advantages is the ability to upload documents, emails, and even images to Alexa Plus through the website and have it pull out important information. Recipes can become shopping lists, vet bills, a record of rabies vaccinations, and kids’ little league schedules can automatically be added to your calendar.
Of course, Amazon is talking up its broader integrations as well, like generating meal plans and automatically filling an Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods cart with your groceries — even abiding by your dietary restrictions. It also puts access to your smart home devices like lights, locks, and doorbell cameras right next to your chat with Alexa. While in theory, Google Gemini should have similar smart home features, I can tell you from experience that they’re not particularly reliable.
Our experience with Alexa Plus has been a bit rocky so far. So, while it’s nice to see Amazon giving its latest AI assistant a vote of confidence, maybe double-check its work before trusting that it’s filled your cart with purely vegan options.
Additionally, Alexa Plus is gaining entertainment features that should mean you spend less time aimlessly scrolling through Prime Video. But, also, just watching whatever Alexa suggests and sends to your Fire TV is precisely the sort of passive consumption that many are trying to break free of.
Amazon is also launching a sidebar for keeping your favorite Alexa features a click away, so you don’t need to switch windows when you want to turn up your thermostat. It’s also launching a newly redesigned Alexa mobile app.
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- Terrence O’Brien