"Alexa+ turns the digital assistant into a more chatty device which Amazon says will be able to follow threads and be more proactive in its responses. There has been criticism the Echo has stagnated since its launch in 2016, while AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude have become much easier to communicate with."
"It will be interesting to see how users react to this - we expect this could be polarising, with some enjoying the more relaxed, familiar interactions while others may find it disconcerting. UK consumers will notice an immediate difference. Using Alexa+ is a very different experience."
"For example, I asked the current Alexa whether I needed an umbrella today. It responded, 'no rain is expected today'. At a UK demo of Alexa+, it responded, 'actually, you can leave the brolly at home, with sunny skies and no rain in the forecast, you'll be sorted without it'."
Amazon is rolling out Alexa+, an upgraded version of its Echo smart speaker across the UK. The enhancement transforms Alexa into a more conversational and proactive digital assistant capable of following conversation threads, addressing criticism that the device has stagnated since 2016 while competitors like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude have advanced significantly. The new version provides noticeably different interactions, such as offering more natural, relaxed responses to queries. Alexa+ will be available free to Amazon Prime members or for £19.99 monthly. Industry experts predict mixed user reactions, with some appreciating the more familiar interactions while others may find them disconcerting. Despite previous criticism comparing Alexa to expensive kitchen timers, Amazon reports 52% of UK consumers have tried Echo devices, with 114 billion interactions recorded since 2023.
Read at www.bbc.com
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