Over a million people now have access to the gen-AI powered Alexa+ | TechCrunch

Amazon's upgraded digital assistant, Alexa+, powered by generative AI, has now reached over a million users, according to a recent TechCrunch report. The service, which was first announced in February, is currently in its early access phase, with Amazon gradually rolling out invites to users who signed up to test the service.

While not yet publicly available, Alexa+ is being tested by a growing number of users who are sharing their experiences on social media. The early access phase allows Amazon to gather feedback and refine the service before its official launch. Alexa+ aims to provide a more natural and personalized experience compared to the existing Alexa.

It offers improved smart home integration, expanded capabilities thanks to AI, and the ability to interact with the assistant using more natural language. Users can customize their experience by saving preferences and creating routines. The AI component enables Alexa+ to perform tasks like summarizing emails, generating stories, creating quizzes, and making travel itineraries.

The service will be free during the Early Access period and will later be free for Prime customers. Non-Prime users will be able to access Alexa+ for $19.99 per month. Initial partners include OpenTable, Ticketmaster, Uber Eats, and others. While currently available on specific Echo Show devices in the U.S., Amazon plans to expand Alexa+ to more Echo customers, Fire TV, and Fire tablet users over time.

Early user reviews are mixed, with some praising the service's advancements while others note areas needing improvement. Amazon states that nearly 90% of the announced features have already been implemented, suggesting a near-future public launch. Alexa+ represents Amazon's attempt to leverage generative AI to enhance its voice assistant and potentially monetize the platform, addressing the challenge of turning Alexa's popularity into a revenue-generating business.