Amazon has recently introduced Alexa Plus in early access, but the rollout is limited primarily to a small number of users. This upgraded version of Alexa aims to enhance its AI capabilities, making it more intelligent and proactive. However, many of the promised features are currently missing, which has raised concerns about the product’s readiness for public use.
Initially, Alexa Plus will only be accessible to select customers who own devices like the Echo Show 8, 10, 15, or 21. Over time, it is expected that availability will expand to other devices. Despite the launch, several key features that were demoed earlier are absent, as Amazon feels they do not meet the company’s quality standards for public release.
Among the missing features are functionalities such as ordering takeout through Grubhub based on conversation, visually identifying family members to remind them of tasks, brainstorming gift ideas, and generating stories for children. Additionally, the ability to create shopping lists and chat with Alexa Plus via the web will not be available at launch. While some features were included, there are also reports of issues.
For instance, the ability to read and summarize uploaded documents came with an unfortunate limitation: users cannot delete uploaded files. Requests for deletion must be routed to Amazon support, and users are informed that the process might not completely erase associated data. Alexa Plus is available for $19.99 per month, although Amazon Prime members can use it for free.
Considering it’s currently in early access, users may want to wait before committing financially, as the service is expected to improve over time.
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