Alexa Emergency Assist will be supported on every Echo device, from the oldest Echo speaker to the newest Echo Show 8 (pictured).
Maria Diaz/ZDNET
Amazon Echo devices are potentially getting an AI-powered upgrade, but it won’t come free.
According to a report from Reuters, which got its information from several anonymous Amazon employees, the company is working on a superior version of Alexa known as “Remarkable Alexa” that could replace the existing version. This new version will have two tiers — a free option that does what the devices do now — only a little bit better, and another option that injects even more generative AI.
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The generative AI version will reportedly cost between $5 and $10 a month, and Amazon will not include it with a Prime subscription.
What does generative AI Alexa look like? “Near-human-like conversations” to start, plus the ability to draft and send emails and take Uber Eats orders. Upgraded Alexa might also be able to handle multiple queries in succession, meaning the user won’t have to repeatedly say “Alexa” during a conversation.
Reuters also explained that Remarkable Alexa would be able to learn from users. With the existing Alexa, users can set routines for connected smart devices so things like a coffee pot (or a luxury ice maker) whirr to life on a set schedule. New Alexa, however, might learn that a user turns on their ice maker each morning at the same time or fires up the TV to watch the same show at the same time and handle that task on its own.
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The interviewed employees did warn that users might have to purchase additional Alexa devices to fully take advantage of Remarkable Alexa.
While $10 a month isn’t much, whether customers will be willing to pay up for the added features remains an open question. An Amazon Prime subscription is $14.99 a month, or $139 if paid for a year at once. Is an upgraded Alexa worth an additional $120 a year?
Amazon reportedly gave employees a deadline of this year to have Remarkable Alexa ready, so we likely won’t have to wait too much longer to find out.