First impressions of Alexa+, Amazon’s upgraded, AI-powered digital assistant

I owned quite a lot of Alexa-powered gadgets in my former house: There have been Amazon Echos in most rooms, together with an older Echo Plus in the lounge, a smattering of Dots, a Spot in a bed room, and an Echo Present within the kitchen. A Hearth TV ran within the bed room. And, in a drawer, a hardly ever used Hearth HD pill sat amassing mud.

With the full lack of the house as a result of a March 2024 home hearth, there additionally got here a brand new alternative: We might now make a recent begin to create a extra modernized sensible house after rebuilding our home. However whether or not Alexa nonetheless deserves to be the middle of our related house stays to be seen.

To search out out whether or not Alexa remains to be the very best sensible assistant for my household, I’m going to check Amazon’s AI-powered gadgets, experiment with AI queries, and write out my ideas in a multi-part sequence. With this sequence, I hope to supply shoppers insights as to how effectively Alexa works in numerous real-world conditions, not firm demos.

Alexa wanted to catch up

Amazon’s assistant, which as soon as gave its customers Star Trek vibes as they ordered their house pc to shut the blinds or flip off the lights or order milk, now not appears as revolutionary within the ChatGPT period. At this time, individuals can have interaction with AI through textual content and voice chat. Trendy AI chatbots and AI-powered providers can reply so many extra questions, are imaginative, can purpose, can create pictures and artwork, and generate movies, and with the agentic AI, they will even carry out on-line duties in your behalf.

In February 2025, Amazon introduced a whole makeover of its digital voice assistant with the arrival of Alexa+, powered by generative AI. That service started rolling out slowly to prospects in March and is now obtainable to “many thousands and thousands” of customers, Amazon says. The system can also be model-agnostic, which means Alexa+ can use no matter it wants within the second to reply the query or full the duty. Alexa+ is utilizing fashions from Anthropic and Amazon Nova, amongst others.

The corporate teased that this improved Alexa might do greater than set timers and alarms, management sensible house gadgets, and reply questions. It leverages generative AI to make sense of data saved in Amazon customers’ accounts, perceive their schedules, and their preferences. It could actually keep in mind issues, course of recordsdata, and summarize a Ring digicam’s footage.

Notably, Amazon says it’s been working with companions to permit it to take actions for individuals, like reserving dinner reservations or Uber rides, or shopping for live performance tickets. Integrations with Amazon’s personal grocery service might even have it make buying lists by chatting with it, after which have these merchandise delivered. Basically, it’s aiming to deliver agentic AI into the house.

However earlier than we are able to get to that, let’s see how Alexa+ handles the fundamentals.

Within the first a part of this sequence, I’m going to arrange Alexa+, use the app, and ask the assistant some questions that solely the brand new Alexa+ can do. Later, I’ll check the agentic AI options and sensible house integrations.

Organising Alexa+ on an Echo Spot

Machine: Echo Spot
Default music service: Spotify (Premium)

Earlier than transferring to my new house, I put Alexa+ to the check on a brand-new Echo Spot after being accepted into the beta. Since I couldn’t but hook up sensible house gadgets within the Airbnb that’s served as a brief residence for over a 12 months, I initially tried to check the machine’s AI in different methods.

Primarily, I wished to know if Alexa+ was actually all that sensible and helpful, and if it might do all of the issues Amazon promised.

Organising the Spot was simpler than it was with previous gadgets, as now you solely must scan a QR code to get the method began within the Alexa app. The app related routinely to the house’s Wi-Fi; no extra bizarre toggling between the machine’s community and your personal Wi-Fi.

On the subsequent display screen, I accepted the invite to improve to the brand new Alexa+ free of charge, realizing that it’s nonetheless potential to downgrade to the previous Alexa service at any time, if issues go flawed.

Onboarding included a brief video that defined that Alexa would be taught extra as I take advantage of it, and instructed me on the best way to discuss to Alexa. I then related my Google account, giving Alexa entry to my inbox and calendar.

I ended up on a clean web page after doing so, oddly, however after closing the window, the display screen knowledgeable me that my “Account Linked.” (Disclosure: I’m working the iOS 26 developer beta on my iPhone, so perhaps that’s the issue?)

On the next display screen, I picked the providers I wished to make use of with Alexa+, which at the moment embody OpenTable, Ticketmaster, Uber, and Thumbtack. I checked all of the containers, then moved to the next display screen to grant the required permissions, one after the other.

Whereas it’s a bit tedious to take action — and one thing that might be much more tedious in time as extra providers are added — I did respect that it felt like I used to be in charge of the info sharing and will see precisely what every service was requesting earlier than agreeing.

The next display screen confirmed that Fodor’s journey planning service was already built-in with Alexa+, nevertheless it didn’t require permissions. It additionally famous that providers like Uber Eats, Grubhub, and Vagaro can be added in a while.

The Alexa app itself remains to be sorely missing in person interface design. Regardless of many updates, the app nonetheless feels by some means each plain and too busy. It lacks colour and conventional cell app navigation patterns, and it tries to cram too many examples of “issues to do” on its house display screen.

In the meantime, making an attempt to find the best way to do the required first steps — like linking my most well-liked music service — is buried within the interface. Nope, you don’t faucet in your profile icon, Settings, after which scroll all the way down to “Most well-liked service suppliers.” For some purpose, that’s the place you set your most well-liked Information, Calendar, and Electronic mail suppliers, however not your most well-liked Music service.

As a substitute, you faucet on the hamburger menu on the backside of the display screen. You then faucet on the “Music & Extra” display screen. (What’s the “Extra”? Podcasts? Audiobooks?)

I set Spotify as my default music service, the default selection for artists and style stations, and the default for podcasts. There was no choice to set my default audiobooks service.

On this part, there was additionally an inventory of providers I had beforehand linked with Alexa. Right here, Amazon’s Audible — which I would favor to set because the default for audiobooks — was listed alongside different streamers, like Pandora, Amazon Music, Apple Music, and others. However once I tapped on Audible, I merely acquired an error that claims “You’ve reached the tip of Alexa’s data. Simply kidding. This talent now not exists. Click on right here to return.”

Uh, OK. I imply, would it not not make sense to simply take away the damaged factor that now not exists?

In any occasion, I’m right here to attempt Alexa+, not yell at a poorly designed cell app.

I’ll determine audiobooks later, I assume.

Be aware for this sequence:

In these exams, I could have shared private info with Alexa that I cannot be publishing. In these circumstances, I’ll put an outline of the merchandise — like “baby’s faculty” — in [brackets]. I’ve additionally barely modified a few of the dates, occasions, and numbers to additional obscure any private info that might be used to develop an understanding of my accounts, conferences, or family routines.

Can Alexa+ handle the household’s schedule?

Busy households, particularly ones with children, usually use a household calendar to trace actions, physician’s appointments, errands, conferences, lessons, and extra. Our household calendar is maintained in Google Calendar, accessed on our telephones by way of the native Google Calendar app, and on Mac desktops through the calendar app Fantastical.

Amazon means that Alexa+ will help summarize your day, add new occasions to your calendar, establish conflicts, and extra.

In follow, Alexa was pretty adept at letting me inquire concerning the schedule and numerous occasions, nevertheless it interrupted me once I was asking so as to add a brand new assembly to my calendar. I mentioned, “Are you able to add a gathering to my calendar on August 6 at 2 p.m. with [entity] about …” Right here she minimize me off to ask, “What would you prefer to title this assembly?”

Annoying, however not end-of-the-world horrible, I suppose.

I used to be extra simply in a position to ask issues like “What’s on my calendar at the moment?” and observe as much as ask additional questions — like if there have been any conferences later within the week or to repeat one of many appointments. I didn’t need to say “Alexa” once more to proceed the dialog. It felt extra pure, however there’s a really slight lag together with her responses at occasions.

(As an apart, once I went to search out the historical past of my voice chats for scripting this submit, I requested Alexa the place they might be discovered. She informed me to look within the app’s Settings underneath the Extra menu, then search for Alexa Privateness or Evaluate Voice Historical past. She’s flawed. Neither choice was there. I did, nevertheless, discover my historical past from the “Latest Chats” hyperlink on the app’s house display screen. Alexa, c’mon! Know thyself.)

Alexa, keep in mind this

One other factor Alexa+ is meant to have the ability to do is retailer info in your behalf. To check this out, I requested her to recollect my frequent flier quantity. This interplay went poorly.

Me: Alexa, are you able to keep in mind my Delta SkyMiles quantity?

Alexa: Positive, I’d be blissful to recollect your Delta SkyMiles quantity for you. What’s the quantity?

Me: *opens mouth to talk*

Alexa: I’ve added that to Keep in mind This within the Alexa privateness part of the app. Also, hold in my that anybody who has entry to any of your Alexa gadgets can use their voice to listen to its contents.

Um, what? I attempted once more.

Me: Alexa, are you able to keep in mind my SkyMiles quantity?

Alexa: Actually! I’d be blissful to recollect your SkyMiles quantity for you. What’s the quantity? OK, saved it.

She didn’t even take a breath!

Curious, I requested her what she thinks the quantity is. She responded, “I don’t have your SkyMiles quantity saved but. Would you want to inform me your quantity now?”

Me: Sure.

Alexa: OK, go forward and inform me your Delta SkyMiles quantity.

Me: [says the 8-digit number]

Alexa: OK, saved it.

Me: What’s my SkyMiles quantity?

Alexa: “600 fifty-two million, 4 hundred eighty-six thousand…”

(Be aware: I modified the quantity for the aim of this submit, however sure, Alexa learn it out like an extended numeral as an alternative of simply saying 6-5-2-4-8-6, and many others. Not useful!)

Alexa, learn my e mail

Alexa+ can now supposedly perceive paperwork you add within the Alexa app or ahead to her at alexa@alexa.com utilizing the e-mail handle related together with your Amazon account.

To do this, I forwarded an e mail from my baby’s faculty. These come often and have quite a lot of helpful info in them, however are sometimes misplaced within the inbox. Maybe if Alexa can deal with this activity, a brand new Gmail forwarding filter is so as?

Me: Alexa, summarize the current e mail from faculty.

Alexa: The current e mail from [my child’s school] is a welcome-back letter for the 2025-2026 faculty 12 months. It publicizes an “Early Begin Day” orientation on August [date] for brand spanking new college students, with an info session for brand spanking new mother and father that night. Common lessons start on August [date].

Me: Was there any info particularly for [grade] in that e mail?

Alexa: I don’t see any info particularly for [grade] in that e mail. The letter primarily covers basic faculty info, orientation dates, and necessary deadlines for all college students.

Nice, that labored, it appears. However right here’s the place issues acquired a little bit trickier.

Me: Are there any necessary dates I ought to add to my calendar?

Alexa: *repeats the necessary dates from above*

Me: Are you able to add these to my calendar for me?

Alexa: (Who should have misheard me?) Checking your calendar. Sarah, your calendar is wanting busy. You’ve got [activity] ongoing till August sixteenth, you’ve [activity]. On Thursday, …

Me: (interrupting) I used to be asking should you might add the dates within the e mail to my calendar for me?

Alexa: Actually, I’ll try this. (Pause) I’ve added the next dates to your calendar:

• Course Correction Request Interval from August [date] by way of August [date]
• New Scholar Orientation Early Begin Day on August [date, time]
• First Day of Faculty on August [date]

Is there the rest you’d like me so as to add?

Whereas this course of appears environment friendly and is actually useful in a pinch, you’ll discover I left it as much as Alexa to find out which dates had been “necessary.” In consequence, she picked the three dates closest to at the moment. The e-mail itself, nevertheless, contained an inventory of 12 necessary faculty dates, together with issues like Meet the Instructor Evening, Open Home, Midyear Commencement, and extra.

All of them had been formatted the identical manner within the e mail underneath the heading “Necessary Dates.” Had I solely relied on Alexa and had not learn the e-mail itself, I might have missed these.

Oh, expensive.

Alexa, assist me get monetary savings

One other Alexa+ promise is that she will help you observe costs on Amazon so it can save you cash when issues go on sale. Alright, I’ll chunk! I like on-line buying.

I made a decision to attempt monitoring a few issues, together with one skincare merchandise and a Coach purse. These are issues I positively don’t want, however need — the sorts of issues the place a reduction might immediate a purchase order.

Me: Alexa, I wish to know when the Glow Recipe Plum Plumping and Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Pores and skin Care Serum goes on sale.

Alexa: Only a second … I’ve arrange a deal tracker for the Glow Recipe Plum Plumping Serum. I’ll notify you when it goes on sale.

Me: How a lot is it proper now?

Alexa: *silence*

Me: Did you hear me?

Alexa: Checking on that. Sure, I heard you. I’ve already arrange a deal tracker for the Glow Recipe Plum Plumping Serum. You’ll get a notification when it goes on sale.

Me: How a lot is it now?

Alexa: *Extra silence.*

OK, I assume we’ll wait on that one.

Subsequent up, I attempted the purse.

Me: Alexa, I wish to know when the Coach Swinger purse goes on sale.

Alexa: Actually, I’ll verify that. Acquired it! I arrange a deal tracker for the Coach Swinger purse. I’ll let you recognize when it goes on sale.

Me: Is it out of inventory in blue?

Alexa: *Silence*

Me: Is the Coach purse I simply requested you about out of inventory in blue? (Be aware: it was, per Amazon’s web site on the time of the request.)

Alexa: Let me verify that for you. (Lengthy pause) I discovered the Coach Swinger purse, nevertheless it’s presently obtainable in black. The blue choice isn’t displaying up within the search outcomes, which could imply it’s out of inventory. Would you want extra particulars concerning the obtainable choices?

Me: No.

The Coach Swinger purse in blue does present up on the product web page on the net, for what it’s value; it’s listed as “briefly out of inventory.” The bag can also be obtainable in each black and pink, however Alexa solely talked about the black choice for some purpose. Not tremendous useful.

And we’ll have to attend to see if it ever goes on sale.

Off to a sluggish begin

With these first introductory exams, Alexa+ appears very very like a beta product. She’s making an attempt however is inclined to creating errors and never being thorough. Typically, she doesn’t even appear to listen to me or doesn’t know what to do.

On condition that many of those are out-of-the-box options that don’t require integrations, it’s important to marvel how effectively Alexa+ will do at navigating the net and taking motion for you.

Within the subsequent installment of this sequence, I’ll proceed testing the AI and can attempt a few of the agentic AI options with Alexa+.