Alexa+ Expands: Your AI Helper Now on the Web

Alexa+, Amazon's upgraded AI assistant, is now stepping out of your home and into your web browser. The company has launched a new website, Alexa. com, where users can chat with Alexa+ just like they would with other AI chatbots. Amazon wants Alexa+ to be everywhere, not just in your living room or kitchen. With over 600 million Alexa-powered devices sold worldwide, the company is now focusing on making its AI assistant accessible on the web and mobile devices. This way, even people who don't own an Echo device can interact with Alexa+. The Alexa mobile app is also getting an update, putting a chatbot-style interface front and center. This makes it easier to chat with Alexa+ and access its features. On the Alexa. com website, users can do things like explore topics, create content, and plan trips. But Amazon wants to set Alexa+ apart by focusing on family needs. Alexa+ can help manage your family's calendar, to-do lists, dinner reservations, and even plan movie nights with personalized recommendations. It can also control smart home devices, add items to your Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods cart, and find recipes. Plus, Amazon is integrating more services with Alexa+, like Angi, Expedia, Square, and Yelp. The website features a navigation sidebar for quick access to your most-used Alexa features. This means you can easily pick up where you left off on tasks like setting the thermostat, checking your calendar, or reviewing shopping lists. Amazon also wants users to share their personal documents, emails, and calendar access with Alexa+. This way, Alexa+ can become a hub for managing family life, from school holidays to doctor's appointments.However, Amazon doesn't have its own productivity suite or as much personal data as rivals like Google. Instead, it relies on tools to forward and upload files to Alexa+. This feature is now available on Alexa. com, and the information you share can be displayed and managed on the Echo Show's screen. According to Amazon, 76% of what customers are using Alexa+ for, other AIs can't do. This includes unique tasks like sending a photo of an old family recipe to Alexa+ and talking through the recipe as you cook. But 24% of users are using Alexa+ for tasks that other AIs can also do, which could indicate a shift in AI usage. Alexa. com is initially only available to Early Access customers who sign in with their Amazon account. Over 10 million consumers now have access to Alexa+, and they're having two to three times more conversations with Alexa+ than they did with the original Alexa assistant. Users are shopping three times more, using recipes five times more, and heavy smart home customers are using Alexa+ 50% more for smart home control. Despite some complaints about Alexa+'s misfires and mistakes, Amazon believes these are over-represented online. The number of people opting out of the Alexa+ experience after trying it is in the low single digits, according to Amazon. Plus, 97% of Alexa devices support Alexa+, and Amazon says customers are using Alexa+ across many years and generations of devices.