Amazon is starting to roll out its next-gen voice assistant, Alexa+, and while it promises to be smarter and more helpful than the original Alexa, the early version is missing quite a few features, according to The Washington Post. If you were hoping for an instant upgrade to a full-blown AI-powered assistant, you might want to hold off for now.
Think of Alexa+ as a more advanced version of the Alexa you already know—only this time, it’s powered by generative AI. Amazon wants it to be more conversational and better at understanding context, a bit like what you’d get from tools like ChatGPT or Google’s Gemini.
Right now, Alexa+ can do things like read and summarize documents you upload, help identify objects through a camera, order an Uber, and even draft emails. The idea is to make Alexa more of a digital helper you can talk to naturally, rather than just a voice you ask to turn on the lights.
At the moment, Alexa+ is only available to a small group of users, an Amazon spokesperson confirmed to the Verge, in what Amazon’s calling an “early access” release. To try it out, you’ll need to own one of the Echo Show smart displays—specifically the 8, 10, 15, or 21 models. If you qualify, and you’re a Prime member, you’ll get access for free. Otherwise, it’ll cost $19.99 a month.
Once Alexa+ is running on one of those supported devices, it should also extend to other Echo devices in your home—though not all models will be supported. Older hardware, like the first-generation Echo Dot or the Echo Show 2nd Gen, probably won’t make the cut.
Here’s the thing: many of the tools Amazon talked about during its big February launch event aren’t actually available yet. Features that are still on the way include:
According to The Washington Post, some of these features weren’t quite ready for prime time and are being held back until they meet Amazon’s internal quality standards. Some might arrive in a few months, while others may take longer.
One feature that is available now—but comes with a caveat—is document summarization. You can upload things like manuals, emails, or legal documents and have Alexa+ break them down for you. But there’s no easy way to delete these files after uploading them.
If you try to remove a document, you’ll likely run into an error. The only option at the moment is to contact Amazon customer support, and even then, deletion may not be complete. According to leaked internal guidance, staff are told not to say the file is “permanently deleted.” A fix is apparently in the works, but there’s no firm timeline yet.
Naturally, that’s something to keep in mind if you’re thinking about sharing sensitive information with the assistant.
Amazon says this is just the start and that new features will be rolled out in stages. That kind of slow release can be helpful when it comes to testing and improving things before a wider launch, but it also means Alexa+ doesn’t yet feel like the leap forward some people were hoping for.
If you’re already using an Echo Show and curious about Alexa+, it might be worth exploring—especially if you’re a Prime member and don’t have to pay extra. But if you were excited about some of the more advanced features, like smarter food ordering or web-based access, you might be better off waiting until more tools are actually available.
