I owned a large number of Alexa-powered gadgets in my former house: There have been Amazon Echos in maximum rooms, together with an older Echo Plus in the lounge, a smattering of Dots, a Spot in a bed room, and an Echo Display within the kitchen. A Hearth TV ran within the bed room. And, in a drawer, a hardly ever used Hearth HD pill sat gathering mud.
With the overall lack of the house because of a March 2024 space hearth, there additionally got here a brand new alternative: Lets now make a contemporary begin to create a extra modernized sensible house after rebuilding our space. However whether or not Alexa nonetheless merits to be the middle of our hooked up house is still noticed.
To determine whether or not Alexa continues to be the most efficient sensible assistant for my circle of relatives, I’m going to check Amazon’s AI-powered gadgets, experiment with AI queries, and write out my ideas in a multi-part collection. With this collection, I am hoping to supply customers insights as to how neatly Alexa works in quite a lot of real-world eventualities, no longer corporate demos.
Alexa had to catch up
Amazon’s assistant, which as soon as gave its customers Celebrity Trek vibes as they ordered their house laptop to near the blinds or flip off the lighting or order milk, now not appeared as progressive within the ChatGPT technology. Nowadays, folks can have interaction with AI by means of textual content and voice chat. Fashionable AI chatbots and AI-powered services and products can resolution such a lot of extra questions, are imaginative, can explanation why, can create pictures and artwork, generate movies, and, with the agentic AI, they may be able to even carry out on-line duties to your behalf.
In February 2025, Amazon introduced a whole makeover of its virtual voice assistant with the coming of Alexa+, powered through generative AI. That provider started rolling out slowly to shoppers in March and is now to be had to “many hundreds of thousands” of customers, Amazon says. The device may be model-agnostic, which means Alexa+ can use no matter it wishes within the second to reply to the query or entire the duty. Alexa+ is the usage of fashions from Anthropic and Amazon Nova, amongst others.
The corporate teased that this advanced Alexa may do greater than set timers and alarms, keep an eye on sensible house gadgets, and resolution questions. It leverages generative AI to make sense of knowledge saved in Amazon customers’ accounts, perceive their schedules, and their personal tastes. It could actually take note issues, procedure information, and summarize a Ring digital camera’s photos.
Particularly, Amazon says it’s been operating with companions to permit it to take movements for folks, like reserving dinner reservations or Uber rides, or purchasing live performance tickets. Integrations with Amazon’s personal grocery provider may even have it make buying groceries lists through talking to it, after which have the ones merchandise delivered. Necessarily, it’s aiming to carry agentic AI into the house.
However sooner than we will get to that, let’s see how Alexa+ handles the fundamentals.
Within the first a part of this collection, I’m going to arrange Alexa+, use the app, and ask the assistant some questions that simplest the brand new Alexa+ can do. Later, I’ll take a look at the agentic AI options and sensible house integrations.
Putting in Alexa+ on an Echo Spot
Instrument: Echo Spot
Default song provider: Spotify (Top rate)
Prior to shifting to my new house, I put Alexa+ to the take a look at on a brand-new Echo Spot after being authorized into the beta. Since I couldn’t but hook up sensible house gadgets within the Airbnb that’s served as a brief place of abode for over a yr, I to start with attempted to check the software’s AI in different ways.
Principally, I sought after to grasp if Alexa+ used to be in reality all that sensible and helpful, and if she may do the entire issues Amazon promised.
Putting in the Spot used to be more uncomplicated than it used to be with previous gadgets, as now you simplest had to scan a QR code to get the method began within the Alexa app. The app hooked up robotically to the house’s Wi-Fi; not more bizarre toggling between the software’s community and your individual Wi-Fi.
At the subsequent display screen, I authorized the invite to improve to the brand new Alexa+ without spending a dime, figuring out that it’s nonetheless imaginable to downgrade to the outdated Alexa provider at any time, if issues move unsuitable.
Onboarding integrated a brief video that defined that Alexa would be informed extra as I exploit it, and steered me on communicate to Alexa. I then hooked up my Google account, giving Alexa get admission to to my inbox and calendar.
I finished up on a clean web page after doing so, oddly, however after final the window, the display screen knowledgeable me that my “Account Connected.” (Disclosure: I’m operating the iOS 26 developer beta on my iPhone, so perhaps that’s the issue?)
At the following display screen, I picked the services and products I sought after to make use of with Alexa+, which as of late come with OpenTable, Ticketmaster, Uber, and Thumbtack. I checked the entire packing containers, then moved to the next display screen to grant the essential permissions, one after the other.
Whilst it’s a little bit tedious to take action — and one thing which may be much more tedious in time as extra services and products are added — I did respect that it felt like I used to be in keep an eye on of the knowledge sharing and may see precisely what every provider used to be inquiring for sooner than agreeing.
The next display screen showed that Fodor’s commute making plans provider used to be already built-in with Alexa+, but it surely didn’t require permissions. It additionally famous that services and products like Uber Eats, Grubhub, and Vagaro can be added afterward.
The Alexa app itself continues to be sorely missing in person interface design. In spite of many updates, the app nonetheless feels by hook or by crook each undeniable and too busy. It lacks colour and standard cellular app navigation patterns, and it tries to cram too many examples of “issues to do” on its house display screen.
In the meantime, looking to find do the essential first steps — like linking my most popular song provider — is buried within the interface. Nope, you don’t faucet to your profile icon, Settings, after which scroll right down to “Most well-liked provider suppliers.” For some explanation why, that’s the place you place your most popular Information, Calendar, and E-mail suppliers, however no longer your most popular Tune provider.
As a substitute, you faucet at the hamburger menu on the backside of the display screen. Then you definitely faucet at the “Tune & Extra” display screen. (What’s the Extra? Podcasts? Audiobooks?)
I set Spotify as my default song provider, the default selection for artists and style stations, and the default for podcasts. There used to be no way to set my default audiobooks provider.
On this segment, there used to be additionally an inventory of services and products I had up to now connected with Alexa. Right here, Amazon’s Audible — which I would favor to set because the default for audiobooks — used to be indexed along different streamers, like Pandora, Amazon Tune, Apple Tune, and others. But if I tapped on Audible, I merely were given an error that claims “You’ve reached the top of Alexa’s wisdom. Simply kidding. This talent now not exists. Click on right here to return.”
Uh, OK. I imply, wouldn’t it no longer make sense to only take away the damaged factor that now not exists?
In any tournament, I’m right here to check out Alexa+, no longer yell at a poorly designed cellular app.
I’ll work out audiobooks later, I assume.
Word for this collection:
In those exams, I will have shared private knowledge with Alexa that I can no longer be publishing. In the ones circumstances, I can put an outline of the object — like “kid’s faculty” — in [brackets]. I’ve additionally quite modified one of the vital dates, occasions, and numbers to additional difficult to understand any private knowledge which may be used to expand an working out of my accounts, conferences, or family routines.
Can Alexa+ arrange the circle of relatives’s agenda?
Busy families, particularly ones with youngsters, frequently use a circle of relatives calendar to trace actions, physician’s appointments, errands, conferences, categories, and extra. Our circle of relatives calendar is maintained in Google Calendar, accessed on our telephones throughout the local Google Calendar app, and on Mac desktops by means of the calendar app Fantastical.
Amazon means that Alexa+ can assist summarize your day, upload new occasions on your calendar, determine conflicts, and extra.
In apply, Alexa used to be reasonably adept at letting me inquire concerning the agenda and quite a lot of occasions, but it surely interrupted me when I used to be asking so as to add a brand new assembly to my calendar. I stated, “Are you able to upload a gathering to my calendar on August 6 at 2 p.m. with [entity] about …” Right here she minimize me off to invite, “What do you want to identify this assembly?”
Irritating, however no longer end-of-the-world horrible, I assume.
I used to be extra simply ready to invite such things as “What’s on my calendar as of late?” and apply as much as ask additional questions — like if there have been any conferences later within the week or to copy probably the most appointments. I didn’t have to mention “Alexa” once more to proceed the dialog. It felt extra herbal, however there’s an excessively slight lag along with her responses every now and then.
(As an apart, once I went to search out the historical past of my voice chats for scripting this put up, I requested Alexa the place they may well be discovered. She advised me to appear within the app’s Settings below the Extra menu, then search for Alexa Privateness or Assessment Voice Historical past. She’s unsuitable. Neither choice used to be there. I did, alternatively, to find my historical past from the “Contemporary Chats” hyperlink at the app’s house display screen. Alexa, c’mon! Know thyself.)
Alexa, take note this
Any other factor Alexa+ is meant so to do is retailer knowledge to your behalf. To check this out, I requested her to keep in mind my widespread flier quantity. This interplay went poorly.
Me: Alexa, are you able to take note my Delta SkyMiles quantity?
Alexa: Certain, I’d be at liberty to keep in mind your Delta SkyMiles quantity for you. What’s the quantity?
Me: *opens mouth to talk*
Alexa: I’ve added that to Consider This within the Alexa privateness segment of the app. Additionally, stay in my that anybody who has get admission to to any of your Alexa gadgets can use their voice to listen to its contents.
Um, what? I attempted once more.
Me: Alexa, are you able to take note my SkyMiles quantity?
Alexa: Without a doubt! I’d be at liberty to keep in mind your SkyMiles quantity for you. What’s the quantity? OK, stored it.
She didn’t even take a breath!
Curious, I requested her what she thinks the quantity is. She answered, “I don’t have your SkyMiles quantity stored but. Do you want to inform me your quantity now?”
Me: Sure.
Alexa: OK, move forward and inform me your Delta SkyMiles quantity.
Me: [says the 8-digit number]
Alexa: OK, stored it.
Me: What’s my SkyMiles quantity?
Alexa: “600 fifty-two million, 400 eighty-six thousand…”
(Word: I modified the quantity for the aim of this put up, however sure, Alexa learn it out like an extended numeral as a substitute of simply pronouncing 6-5-2-4-8-6, and so forth. No longer useful!)
Alexa, learn my electronic mail
Alexa+ can now supposedly perceive paperwork you add within the Alexa app or ahead to her at alexa@alexa.com the usage of the e-mail cope with related along with your Amazon account.
To take a look at this, I forwarded an electronic mail from my kid’s faculty. Those come incessantly and feature a large number of helpful knowledge in them, however are frequently misplaced within the inbox. In all probability if Alexa can care for this process, a brand new Gmail forwarding filter out is so as?
Me: Alexa, summarize the new electronic mail from faculty.
Alexa: The new electronic mail from [my child’s school] is a welcome-back letter for the 2025-2026 faculty yr. It proclaims an “Early Get started Day” orientation on August [date] for brand spanking new scholars, with a data consultation for brand spanking new oldsters that night time. Common categories start on August [date].
Me: Was once there any knowledge particularly for [grade] in that electronic mail?
Alexa: I don’t see any knowledge particularly for [grade] in that electronic mail. The letter basically covers basic faculty knowledge, orientation dates, and essential closing dates for all scholars.
Nice, that labored, it kind of feels. However right here’s the place issues were given slightly trickier.
Me: Are there any essential dates I must upload to my calendar?
Alexa: *repeats the essential dates from above*
Me: Are you able to upload the ones to my calendar for me?
Alexa: (Who should have misheard me?) Checking your calendar. Sarah, your calendar is taking a look busy. You have got [activity] ongoing till August sixteenth, you might have [activity]. On Thursday, …
Me: (interrupting) I used to be asking if it is advisable upload the dates within the electronic mail to my calendar for me?
Alexa: Without a doubt, I’ll do this. (Pause) I’ve added the next dates on your calendar:
- Route Correction Request Length from August [date] via August [date]
- New Scholar Orientation Early Get started Day on August [date, time]
- First Day of Faculty on August [date]
Is there the rest you’d like me so as to add?
Whilst this procedure turns out environment friendly and is indisputably useful in a pinch, you’ll understand I left it as much as Alexa to resolve which dates have been “essential.” In consequence, she picked the 3 dates closest to as of late. The e-mail itself, alternatively, contained an inventory of 12 essential faculty dates, together with such things as Meet the Instructor Night time, Open Area, Midyear Commencement, and extra.
They all have been formatted the similar manner within the electronic mail below the heading “Necessary Dates.” Had I simplest trusted Alexa and had no longer learn the e-mail itself, I might have neglected those.
Oh, expensive.
Alexa, assist me lower your expenses
Any other Alexa+ promise is that she allow you to observe costs on Amazon so you’ll lower your expenses when issues move on sale. Alright, I’ll chew! I really like on-line buying groceries.
I made up our minds to check out monitoring a few issues, together with one skincare merchandise and a Trainer purse. Those are issues I indubitably don’t want, however need — the varieties of issues the place a bargain may suggested a purchase order.
Me: Alexa, I need to know when the Glow Recipe Plum Plumping and Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Pores and skin Care Serum is going on sale.
Alexa: Only a 2nd … I’ve arrange a deal tracker for the Glow Recipe Plum Plumping Serum. I’ll notify you when it is going on sale.
Me: How a lot is it at this time?
Alexa: *silence*
Me: Did you pay attention me?
Alexa: Checking on that. Sure, I heard you. I’ve already arrange a deal tracker for the Glow Recipe Plum Plumping Serum. You’ll get a notification when it is going on sale.
Me: How a lot is it now?
Alexa: *Extra silence.*
OK, I assume we’ll wait on that one.
Subsequent up, I attempted the purse.
Me: Alexa, I need to know when the Trainer Swinger purse is going on sale.
Alexa: Without a doubt, I’ll test that. Were given it! I arrange a deal tracker for the Trainer Swinger purse. I’ll mean you can know when it is going on sale.
Me: Is it out of inventory in blue?
Alexa: *Silence*
Me: Is the Trainer purse I simply requested you about out of inventory in blue? (Word: it used to be, in step with Amazon’s website online on the time of the request.)
Alexa: Let me test that for you. (Lengthy pause) I discovered the Trainer Swinger purse, but it surely’s recently to be had in black. The blue choice isn’t appearing up within the seek effects, which would possibly imply it’s out of inventory. Do you want extra information about the to be had choices?
Me: No.
The Trainer Swinger purse in blue does display up at the product web page on the net, for what it’s value; it’s indexed as “quickly out of inventory.” The bag may be to be had in each black and crimson, however Alexa simplest discussed the black choice for some explanation why. No longer tremendous useful.
And we’ll have to attend to look if it ever is going on sale.
Off to a sluggish get started
With those first introductory exams, Alexa+ turns out very similar to a beta product. She’s making an attempt however is susceptible to making errors and no longer being thorough. Every now and then, she doesn’t even appear to listen to me or doesn’t know what to do.
For the reason that many of those are out-of-the-box options that don’t require integrations, you need to marvel how neatly Alexa+ will do at navigating the internet and taking motion for you.
Within the subsequent installment of this collection, I’ll proceed checking out the AI and can take a look at one of the vital agentic AI options with Alexa+.
