Amazon just added a text messaging feature to its Alexa for Shopping assistant, allowing US shoppers to order groceries and household items simply by texting a contact named “Amazon Alexa.” Users can describe items or send photos, and the AI agent searches Amazon listings, recommends matches, and completes purchases on their behalf. It is currently rolling out to an invite-only group before expanding to millions more.
Amazon just rolled out Alexa Podcasts for U.S. Alexa+ subscribers, turning any curiosity into a fully produced audio episode within minutes. Users outline a topic conversationally, adjust length and direction, and let AI host voices deliver stories sourced from over 200 media outlets like Reuters and AP. It basically turns Alexa into a personal, on-demand audio tutor.
Amazon is reportedly working on an AI-centric smartphone code-named "Transformer," over a decade after shutting down the Fire Phone. Developed under former Xbox veteran J Allard, the device takes cues from the minimalist Light Phone and may ditch traditional app stores for ChatGPT-like mini apps. No release window or pricing has been set.
Amazon just rolled out Alexa+, a generative AI revamp of its voice assistant that supports natural back-and-forth conversations and typing to chat right on the web. Prime members get full access across Echo devices for free, while anyone can try a daily limited version in browser. It is currently available in the U.S. in English and Spanish.
The New York Times just signed its first-ever AI licensing deal with Amazon, agreeing to license news articles, NYT Cooking recipes, and The Athletic coverage for model training and Alexa integration. It marks a major strategic shift for the publisher, which is still battling OpenAI and Microsoft in court over copyright infringement.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy revealed that a brand-new lineup of "beautiful" devices is landing this fall to accompany the upgraded Alexa Plus. The conversational assistant costs $19.99 a month or comes bundled with Prime, and Amazon's hardware leadership hinted that richer screens will play a massive role in the next generation.
Amazon just introduced Alexa+, a major generative AI overhaul of its smart assistant powered by Amazon Bedrock. It can autonomously orchestrate across thousands of third-party apps to book appointments, order food, or manage smart homes with full context memory. Why it matters: It shifts Alexa from a simple voice remote into a proactive personal agent, and Prime members get it for free ($19.99/month otherwise).
Amazon is set to preview a major generative AI overhaul of Alexa at a February 26 event in New York. The revamped assistant can handle multi-turn conversations and act as an autonomous agent, partly powered by Anthropic's models. Why it matters: Turning Alexa from a glorified kitchen timer into an active assistant is Amazon's best shot at monetizing half a billion connected devices.
Amazon's major revamp of Alexa is running into serious technical roadblocks, according to the Financial Times. Rohit Prasad, head of Amazon's AGI team, admitted that hallucinations must drop "close to zero" alongside cutting response lag and integrating hundreds of third-party apps. Insiders warn a launch won't happen anytime soon.
Amazon is reportedly partnering with brands like Uber, DoorDash, and Ticketmaster to make its upgraded Alexa actually handle tasks from start to finish. Instead of relying purely on LLMs to navigate web pages, Amazon wants direct API hooks with around 200 partners by Q3 next year. It's a far more practical bet on assistants actually getting things done.
Amazon just delayed its generative AI-powered Alexa revamp into 2025, quietly shuttering its beta program in the process. Testers reported the new assistant was slow, hallucinated, and struggled with basic smart home commands like setting kitchen timers or turning off lights. Why it matters: Building a conversational bot is one thing, but reliably connecting an LLM to legacy smart home hardware is proving to be a massive headache.
Amazon is reportedly turning to Anthropic’s Claude to power its upcoming, smarter Alexa assistant after its in-house generative AI models struggled with basic prompt responses. The revamped assistant, dubbed "Remarkable Alexa," is expected to land around mid-October. Why it matters: Amazon previously poured $4 billion into Anthropic, and letting a rival's model take over its flagship consumer product proves that shipping a working agent beats maintaining corporate pride.
Amazon is reportedly prepping a major generative AI overhaul for Alexa this October, internally dubbed "Remarkable Alexa." The new assistant can craft custom recipes, write bedtime stories, and hold more human-like conversations, though it will reportedly require a paid subscription of up to $10 a month.
Amazon is planning a major generative AI overhaul for Alexa later this year, and it won't be free. According to CNBC, the upgraded assistant will feature conversational capabilities powered by Amazon's Titan model, but will require a separate monthly subscription not included with Prime. Why it matters: Facing heat from OpenAI and Google, Amazon wants to turn hundreds of millions of smart speakers from expensive clock radios into a profitable AI subscription business.
Amazon just rolled out an AI Art feature to select Fire TV devices in the US, turning the big screen into a customizable canvas. Powered by Amazon's fine-tuned Titan Image Generator, users can simply ask Alexa to generate up to four tailored images in styles like watercolor or pixel art, and set their favorite directly as the ambient background.
Amazon just announced it is laying off hundreds of employees in its Alexa and Fire TV unit to refocus resources on generative AI. An internal memo stated the cuts span the U.S., Canada, and India, as the company prioritizes smarter conversational features over legacy smart-assistant investments.
Amazon is developing a massive new AI model codenamed Olympus to catch up with rivals OpenAI and Google. Overseen directly by CEO Andy Jassy, the model reportedly features two trillion parameters and could power Alexa and Amazon's online store as soon as December. Why it matters: After falling behind in generative AI, Amazon is ready to throw serious compute behind proprietary foundation models.
Amazon just announced a generative AI upgrade for Fire TV voice search alongside new streaming sticks. Users can now skip rigid commands and ask Alexa open-ended queries like "action movies with car chases" or "comedies for a rainy day." The AI search rolls out in the U.S. later this year, making couch-side discovery feel like a real conversation.
Amazon just announced that Alexa is getting upgraded with a new generative AI model built specifically for voice on Echo devices. The update lets the assistant handle natural conversational pauses, express emotions like laughter or surprise, and interpret vague smart home requests like setting "spooky" lighting. U.S. Echo owners will soon get a free preview of the upgraded assistant.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy just told investors that "every single one" of the company's businesses has multiple generative AI projects underway. From AWS and retail to ads and Alexa, Jassy confirmed the technology is now central to their strategy. Why it matters: Amazon is making sure every division catches up to the AI boom, with big upgrades likely coming to Alexa and search soon.
