Key Takeaways
According to internal documents obtained by The Washington Post, Amazon is gearing up to launch its delayed overhaul of the Alexa voice assistant in October.
The revamped assistant, including advanced AI features, is expected to be rolled out just weeks before the U.S. presidential election. The timing of this launch is particularly notable, given the heightened interest in news and current events during the election period.
Access to the upgraded version of Alexa will require a paid subscription, a shift from the free version that users have been accustomed to.
“Classic Alexa” is practically useless and wholly annoying to use. This upgrade would fix that but it’s paywalled. I appreciate they have to recoup development costs here but I suspect they are shooting themselves in the foot in the long term.
— Chris Coble (@ChrisCoble) August 27, 2024
The subscription could cost up to $10 per month, although Amazon has yet to finalize the pricing. Despite this shift, the original, “classic” version of Alexa will remain free, ensuring that basic functionalities are still available to users who do not wish to subscribe.
One of the most anticipated features of the new Alexa is the “Smart Briefing,” which will provide daily, AI-generated news summaries tailored to individual user preferences.
This feature aims to create a daily habit for users, driving recurrent engagement.
lol, internal documents from Amazon ? You are Amazon.
— David (@Vegas49er) August 27, 2024
The development of this feature responds to one of the top customer requests: “AI features that help customers curate, summarize, and explore current events,” as highlighted in Amazon’s internal communications.
However, Amazon faces challenges as it enters a more competitive AI world.
The company’s rivals, including Microsoft and Google, have already introduced AI chatbots like Copilot and Gemini, which have been programmed to avoid answering political questions due to concerns about misinformation.
But why the fuck would I need a “personal voice assistant”? #cuckoo
— All Blues (@allblues12) August 27, 2024
In contrast, Amazon’s new Alexa will focus on providing accurate and curated news summaries, a feature that may appeal to users interested in staying informed.
In addition to news summaries, the new Alexa will also offer features such as help with finding recipes and a chatbot designed for children, making the assistant more versatile and family-friendly.
Amazon is also exploring ways to monetize these new features. For example, the revamped Alexa will include conversational shopping tools, enabling users to make purchases through voice commands.
Does anyone really use Alexa (or Siri)??
— Pil Roberts | Conservative (aka Classical Liberal) (@PilRoberts) August 27, 2024
These tools and subscription fees are expected to help Amazon recoup some of its investments in AI development.
Despite having sold more than 500 million Alexa devices, Amazon has not disclosed specific financial details related to the project.
Reports indicate that the development costs, along with the fact that most consumers use only the free functions of Alexa, have contributed to considerable losses in Amazon’s devices business.
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The launch of the new Alexa marks Amazon’s response to the growing influence of AI, spurred by the emergence of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which has led many tech companies to invest heavily in AI.
The delayed launch of the new Alexa, now expected in mid-October, indicates that Amazon has taken a slower approach compared to other tech companies that have rolled out major AI projects more quickly.
Amazon has not yet introduced a general-purpose chatbot similar to ChatGPT or Google’s Gemini. However, the company plans to launch Project Metis, a web-based product that is expected to compete directly with these tools.
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The new Alexa is designed to feel more conversational and charismatic, with the ability to recognize individual voices and personalize interactions based on user preferences.
These questions are intended to help the assistant provide more relevant suggestions in the future, such as recipe ideas that consider dietary restrictions.
Amazon also aims to make the shopping experience easier through the new Alexa. Users who subscribe to the service can ask detailed questions about products, such as “What colors do the shoes come in?” or “What are the ingredients?”
A new feature, referred to as Shopping Scout, will notify customers when items they are interested in go on sale, which Amazon hopes will drive subscriptions.
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The new Alexa will also cater to children with an experience called Explore with Alexa 2.0, allowing verified children to engage in safe and moderated conversations with the assistant on any topic.
This feature is designed to comply with regulations and provide a secure environment for younger users.
Overall, Amazon’s revamped Alexa represents a big step forward in AI-driven personal assistants, potentially reshaping user interactions with technology.
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However, the success of this ambitious project will depend on user adoption, the effectiveness of its features, and Amazon’s ability to manage the competitive and regulatory challenges that lie ahead.
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