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.
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.
The New York Times just approved a suite of AI tools for newsroom and product staff, even introducing an in-house summarization tool called Echo. Journalists are encouraged to use AI for SEO headlines and research, but guidelines strictly bar direct drafting and uploading confidential source notes. Why it matters: Even while suing OpenAI for copyright infringement, the paper realizes it can't afford to keep AI out of the newsroom.
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 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.
