Amazon is preparing to launch an enhanced version of its Alexa voice assistant, incorporating advanced artificial intelligence features.
The company has scheduled an event on February 26 in New York, where Panos Panay, head of Amazon’s devices and services team, will provide a preview of the upgrade.
The new iteration of Alexa is an anticipated development since the product’s debut over a decade ago. Designed to engage in extended conversations and take actions on behalf of users, this upgrade could transform Alexa into a more interactive and intelligent assistant.
Currently, Alexa responds to individual commands, but the upcoming version is expected to handle multiple prompts in a sequence, bringing a more fluid and responsive experience.
A key internal meeting, known as a “Go/No-go” session, has been set for February 14, where executives will assess whether the product is ready for public release. If approved, Amazon will first roll out the service to a limited number of users for free, although the company has considered introducing a subscription fee ranging from $5 to $10 per month in the future.
Meanwhile, the existing version, now referred to as “Classic Alexa,” will remain available at no cost, though Amazon has reportedly halted the addition of new features to it.
Despite Alexa’s initial success in driving wide adoption of voice assistants, its functionality has been largely unchanged in recent years. Many users now primarily rely on it for basic tasks like setting timers or checking the weather.
The latest upgrade aims to revitalise the product by integrating AI technology that can understand user preferences, refine recommendations, and assist with various tasks, such as modifying food orders before they are finalised.
Amazon has had some delays in bringing this advanced version to market due to issues with response accuracy and speed. Internally, the project has been codenamed “Banyan” and “Remarkable Alexa”, although it is unclear whether either will be used as the official name upon release.
The new Alexa will be compatible with existing Alexa-enabled devices, which number over 500 million worldwide. It is expected to be powered, at least in part, by AI technology from Anthropic, a startup in which Amazon has invested $8 billion.
In a January interview with the Financial Times, Amazon executive Rohit Prasad acknowledged the challenges in developing the updated assistant, particularly in minimising inaccuracies, commonly known as “hallucinations,” which have been an issue for many AI-powered chatbots.
According to estimates from Bank of America, if just 10% of Alexa’s active users—estimated at around 100 million devices—subscribe to the premium service at $5 per month, Amazon could generate an additional $600 million annually.
Alexa was originally envisioned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos as a futuristic, voice-controlled assistant similar to those seen in science fiction. The company hopes that the latest enhancements will finally bring it closer to that vision, making Alexa an indispensable tool for everyday life.
