Exciting news for tech enthusiasts and smart home owners!

The highly anticipated upgrade to Amazon's voice assistant—Alexa Plus—is set to make its debut in the coming weeks with an exclusive early access preview. If you own or are considering acquiring an Echo Show 8, 10, 15, or 21 smart display, you'll be among the first to experience this revolutionary generative-AI powered assistant.

Here’s What You Need to Know About Alexa Plus: Compatible Devices and Access

Apart from the aforementioned Echo Show devices, Alexa Plus is compatible with a broad range of devices, including Fire TV gadgets, Fire tablets, the Alexa app, and can even be accessed via the web at Alexa.com. But watch out—certain older Echo models like the first-gen Echo Dot and Echo Show will miss out on this upgrade. Integration with other devices like Sonos speakers or Ecobee smart thermostats is also not included at launch, although there are plans to potentially extend support in the future. Fortunately, you can still use your original Alexa skills on those devices for the time being.

To gain early access, simply head to Amazon’s new Alexa Plus landing page, click on the “Alexa+ is coming soon” link, and log in to your Amazon account. An email notification will alert you once you’ve been granted access, allowing you to opt into this cutting-edge experience. Early access is free, but keep in mind that Alexa Plus will eventually transition to a subscription model costing $19.99 per month, or it can be bundled with an Amazon Prime membership.

Revolutionary Features of Alexa Plus: Conversational AI like Never Before!

Say goodbye to rigid command structures! Alexa Plus transforms your interaction by utilizing advanced generative AI technology, allowing for natural language comprehension and emotional engagement. Picture this: instead of needing to issue separate commands like, "Alexa, turn on the living room lights," you can simply say, "Alexa, I'm cold, and it’s too dark in here," and watch her respond by adjusting both the lighting and heating accordingly!

Even better, Alexa Plus can process multiple commands simultaneously. You can request, “Alexa, turn on the lights, turn up the heat, start playing NPR, and tell me what’s on my schedule,” all in one go! This new level of multitasking means more complex tasks can be handled as well, such as ordering groceries or reserving a table at your favorite restaurant. In a unique twist, you can even snap a picture of your daughter's soccer schedule to easily add events to your calendar. Amazon is clearly aiming for Alexa Plus to be a true digital companion.

What’s Happening to the Original Alexa?

If you’re fond of the original Alexa, rest assured you can keep using it for the time being. Amazon plans to maintain updates for the original Alexa but emphasizes that the focus has shifted toward enhancing the Alexa Plus experience. However, if you cherish specific skills that might not transition to Alexa Plus, it's wise to stick with the older version—for now.

Not all skills from the original Alexa will make their way to the new version. As reported by Janko Roettgers, many of the existing 160,000 skills will not be available immediately on Alexa Plus. However, Amazon assures that the majority of popular skills will be supported from the beginning. If a beloved skill goes missing, users can inform Amazon, which will work on enabling it in the new system.

Developers, too, have concerns about integrating existing skills to the new platform. While Amazon is encouraging skill adaptation through newly announced AI-native SDKs for Alexa Plus, clarity on transitioning existing skills and monetizing them remains vague.

With Amazon's strategic focus firmly set on Alexa Plus, it marks a transformative moment in the world of smart assistants. Prepare to elevate your smart home experience—Alexa Plus is poised to redefine how we interact with technology! Don’t miss out on this revolution—stay tuned for more updates!