Alexa Got an AI Brain Transplant
Picture this: you’re chatting with Alexa, asking it to set a timer, play your favorite song, or maybe even crack a joke. For years, Alexa has been the trusty sidekick in our smart homes, but let’s be honest—it wasn’t exactly winning any “genius” awards. Fast forward to 2025, and Amazon has given Alexa a major upgrade, a full-on AI brain transplant with generative AI. So, how smart is Alexa+ now? Let’s dive in and find out! Alexa
What’s This AI Brain Transplant All About?
Amazon has swapped out Alexa’s old, rule-based system for something far more advanced: large language models (LLMs), the same tech powering chatbots like ChatGPT. The goal? To make Alexa less of a robotic assistant and more of a conversational companion. Think of it like upgrading from a flip phone to a smartphone—except this phone can book your dinner reservations and maybe even tell your kid a bedtime story.
This new Alexa+, rolled out widely in 2025 after months of early testing, promises to handle complex tasks, understand natural speech, and even make inferences. For example, if you say, “Turn on the new living room light,” Alexa+ should figure out you mean that lamp you just installed, even if you didn’t name it perfectly. Sounds impressive, right? But does it deliver?
The Good: Alexa’s New Superpowers
Let’s start with the wins. Alexa+ feels more human than ever. Its synthetic voices (you can pick from eight!) have a natural cadence, making chats feel less like talking to a machine. You don’t even need to say “Alexa” every time—follow-up questions flow naturally, like a real conversation. I tried asking it to “set three kitchen timers for 15, 25, and 45 minutes,” and it nailed it without missing a beat. It can also handle bigger tasks, like booking a restaurant table or drafting a one-day itinerary for a trip and emailing it to you. For parents, the ability to generate and read stories for kids is a game-changer—my 3-year-old was hooked!
The Not-So-Good: Bugs and Hiccups
But here’s the catch: Alexa+ isn’t perfect. In fact, it’s a bit like a teenager learning to drive—full of potential but prone to mistakes. During testing, it ignored simple requests like canceling an alarm, something the old Alexa handled flawlessly. I also tried emailing a research paper for Alexa+ to summarize, but it hit me with an error message. Worse, it sometimes hallucinates—like when it recommended the wrong box grater, claiming it was Wirecutter’s pick. Yikes! And some promised features, like room-triggered routines (imagine Alexa blasting “Eye of the Tiger” to motivate your mornings), aren’t fully online yet.
Why It’s a Big Deal (Despite the Flaws)
Even with its quirks, Alexa+ is a bold step forward. Amazon’s wrestling with a tough challenge: blending generative AI’s creativity with the reliability of older systems. It’s not just about making Alexa smarter; it’s about making it a true digital concierge. With over 600 million Alexa devices out there, this upgrade could redefine how we interact with our homes. But it’s still a work in progress—Amazon’s team admits they’re “sanding the edges” to fix bugs and speed up responses.
Should You Upgrade to Alexa+?
If you’re a Prime member, Alexa+ comes free, which is a no-brainer. For non-Prime users, the $19.99 monthly fee might give you pause, especially with the bugs. For now, Alexa+ is a glimpse into the future of smart assistants—exciting, but not quite ready to rule the roost. Give it time, and it might just become the digital butler we’ve all been promised.
