Amazon Offers New Alexa+ Website: A Better Option for Fans of Virtual Assistants

Despite being known for its low-key presence at CES, Amazon intends to make its mark this year. The company just unveiled Alexa.com, a new platform that allows users to engage with the virtual assistant using a website, much like the other AI chatbots you've used before.

For those familiar with visiting websites to interact with generative AI models over the past several years, this is a familiar territory. Unlike Google’s Gemini which already had a dedicated website, Alexa and Siri relied heavily on device-specific apps without substantial AI features until recently.

While Siri continues without these advanced capabilities, Alexa received a significant AI upgrade earlier, which has been well-received by users in America through an early-access initiative. Daniel Rausch, who oversees Alexa and Echo at Amazon, revealed that more than 10 million individuals have adopted Alexa+ during the last nine months.

Enhanced User Experience with Alexa+ Online

Rausch shared with ZDNET that people are enthusiastically adopting Alexa+ on all available platforms. By going to Alexa.com, users can enjoy various services including managing lists, setting reminders, and controlling smart gadgets at home, gaining access to all documents shared with Alexa.

Last year's announcements included a promise for expanded capabilities for Alexa+, now realized with its website access. This opens up usage beyond the existing mobile application, with both the app and the browser adopting an interface designed for text and voice engagement, personalized to your user profile, departing from the previously tiled structure.

Access to the Alexa+ website requires users to log in, ensuring a seamless experience across any Amazon-supported devices you use. Although there might be plans for future access without logging in, managing accounts helps in seamlessly unifying user profiles and integrating functions across platforms.

A significant 76% of tasks performed through Alexa+ are unique, underscoring the platform's abilities that are exclusive to Alexa, including its specific device compatibility and third-party integrations. In contrast, the remaining 24% of activities could be executed via other AI assistants, albeit without Alexa's convenient voice integration in user environments like homes or on mobile.

Plans for Future Availability

Amazon hasn't specified when the Alexa+ early access phase will conclude. When fully available, the service is expected to cost $20 per month, although it will be a complimentary benefit for Amazon Prime members.

Alexa+ is backwards compatible with devices spanning over seven years, ensuring that devices from previous generations, current products, and forthcoming technologies operate smoothly with this AI enhancement. This ensures that users get the most out of their investment across a spectrum of gadgets.

The growing list of third-party applications, which recently added partnerships with Expedia, Angie's List, Yelp, and Square, reflects Alexa+'s commitment to broadening capabilities. The general strategy is to deliver reliable performance across different devices and settings, ensuring Alexa+ is available on platforms such as Echo Frames, Echo Buds, and now directly through browsers.