Alexa+ is missing most of its promised magic
Amazon’s AI ambitions hit a snag with the launch of Alexa+, their AI-enhanced virtual assistant, now available but notably short on promised functionality. As reported by The Washington Post, many key features demoed last month are delayed, leaving early adopters with a somewhat limited experience.
Internal company documents cited by The Washington Post indicate that several touted features will be unavailable for at least two months. This includes the ability to order takeout via Grubhub, identify family members through camera recognition for chore reminders, and auto-generate stories for children’s entertainment.
Additional unavailable features at launch include brainstorming gift ideas, ordering groceries, and accessing a browser-based version of Alexa+. Amazon attributes these delays to the features not yet meeting their standards for public release.
Currently, Alexa+ offers limited functionality such as ordering an Uber, identifying objects, and drafting emails. Alexa+ is included with Amazon Prime; a standalone subscription costs $20 per month for non-Prime members.
Availability is gradually expanding over the coming weeks and months, and Alexa+ is exclusively compatible with devices featuring screens, including the Echo Show 8, 10, 15, and 21.