In a recent twist in the tech world, Amazon is facing scrutiny regarding its Alexa Plus service. A story by Reuters sparked interest when it questioned the lack of user feedback on the AI-enhanced assistant, asking the provocative question, "Where are the users?"

In response, Amazon quickly pushed back against this narrative. Company spokesperson Eric Sveum issued a statement declaring, "It’s simply wrong to say that Alexa+ isn’t available to customers; that assertion is false. Hundreds of thousands of customers have access to Alexa+, and we’re constantly inviting more who have requested Early Access." This strong rebuttal underscores Amazon's confidence in its latest innovation.

Alexa Plus, unveiled earlier this year, is marketed as a cutting-edge generative AI upgrade for the beloved voice assistant, available for free to Amazon Prime members or at a monthly rate of $19.99 for others. Yet, despite this enticing offer, the hunt for real users has proven fruitless for some media outlets.

Reuters, while not outright stating that Alexa Plus is inaccessible, quoted analysts who voiced concerns, saying, "There seems to be no one who actually has it." Their extensive search through various platforms—including YouTube, TikTok, and social media—yielded no real-world user testimonials, apart from some unverifiable claims made by a couple of Reddit users.

Meanwhile, Engadget reported that Amazon has begun sending out waves of invitations to its existing Alexa users to join the exclusive trial. An Amazon representative claimed that indeed "hundreds of thousands" have taken the plunge.

Originally launched in an early access program at the end of March, Alexa Plus has faced its share of growing pains. Missing features, such as the ability to order takeout via Grubhub or remind family members about tasks, have left early adopters wanting more. With an action plan in place, Amazon aims to roll out additional features soon, including accessibility through web browsers and Fire TV devices, with an emphasis on Echo Show owners.

As Amazon pushes forward with Alexa Plus, one question remains: will users finally show up and validate the hype surrounding this advanced AI upgrade?