First impressions of Alexa+, Amazon’s upgraded, AI-powered digital assistant

The article provides a first-person account of testing Amazon’s upgraded digital assistant, Alexa+, which integrates generative AI to enhance its capabilities beyond traditional smart home controls. The author, a former heavy user of Alexa devices, explores whether Alexa+ can maintain its relevance in an era dominated by advanced AI chatbots like ChatGPT. Alexa+ launched in early 2025 and uses multiple AI models, including those from Anthropic, to deliver more intelligent, context-aware responses. It can access and process personal information such as schedules, preferences, and files, and even summarize video footage from Ring cameras. Amazon aims for Alexa+ to perform agentic tasks like booking reservations, ordering rides, and managing shopping lists with delivery, moving toward a more autonomous AI assistant in the home. In the initial phase of testing, the author set up Alexa+ on a new Echo Spot device, noting improvements in the setup process, such as QR code scanning and automatic Wi-Fi connection. The upgrade to Alexa+ was free and reversible