Amazon’s Alexa Plus: Exclusive Early Access for a "Small Number" of Customers
Limited Rollout
Amazon has officially launched its AI-powered Alexa Plus, but it’s only available to a "small number" of customers to start, according to an Amazon spokesperson, Kristy Schmidt. This means that not all Echo device owners will have access to the new features immediately.
Early Access Page Reveals Missing Features
The Alexa Plus early access page shows that the assistant can currently perform tasks such as ordering an Uber, identifying objects, drafting emails, and searching for particular products. However, the page also reveals that some features are still missing, including the ability to brainstorm gift ideas, order groceries with your voice, or access Alexa Plus in your browser.
Other Missing Features
According to a report from The Washington Post, some features "don’t yet meet Amazon’s standards for public release." This means that Alexa Plus is still unable to order takeout from Grubhub using context from a conversation, nor can it identify family members around the house and give them reminders to do chores. Additionally, the feature to access Kids Plus features, such as Stories With Alexa, is also not available.
Availability Limited to Certain Devices
For now, Alexa Plus is only available on Echo Show 8, 10, 15, and 21 devices. The early access page notes that the assistant can summarize uploaded documents at launch, but it’s still working on rolling out the ability to delete these files. In the meantime, users can contact Customer Service to have original attachments deleted.
Future Releases
Schmidt explained, "We’re releasing a bunch of features to start, and we’ll continue to launch new features in waves." Amazon announced Alexa Plus in February, which is available on most Echo devices for $19.99 per month, or for free through Prime. Users can sign up to be notified about early access for Alexa Plus on Amazon’s website.
Conclusion
Amazon’s Alexa Plus is a significant step forward in the evolution of its virtual assistant. While it’s exciting to see the new features and capabilities, it’s clear that not all of them are ready for prime time just yet. For now, a select group of customers will get to experience the early stages of Alexa Plus, with more features to come in the future. As Amazon continues to fine-tune its AI-powered assistant, we can expect to see even more impressive capabilities emerge.
