One month after Google announced that it would be trading Assistant for Gemini in Google Home smart home products, Amazon has confirmed the launch of its Alexa+ AI-powered assistant in Canada.
What is Alexa+?
Replacing traditional Alexa, Alexa+ provides a natural, conversational experience that is more personalized to each individual user. It’s compatible with virtually any “newest” model Amazon Alexa-enabled device, including smart speakers and displays. But there are a few specific products that are purpose-built for Alexa+, including the Echo Show 8, Echo Show 11, Echo Dot Max, and Echo Studio.
What Makes Alexa+ Different From Alexa?
Alexa is Amazon’s basic assistant that offers robotic responses to basic queries, like what’s the weather like, what’s on my calendar today, how many inches are in a foot, or how long do I bake lasagna? It can also control smart home devices with specific commands, like turning on lights or playing music. Alexa+ is a step above. It uses advanced Amazon Bedrock large language models (LLMs) and agentic capabilities to more intelligently understand context. It also replies in a more conversational tone, like you’re chatting with a friend.
It adapts based on the specific person in the family communicating with it, leveraging visual and voice ID. Alexa+ learns individual preferences and routines, like what music you love, what book you’re reading, and what foods you don’t like or have a sensitivity or allergy to. It can also use information about you to adapt actions. This could be dimming the lights or turning up the heat before you arrive home after a long day or suggesting that you do a short meditation before bed.
You can give more conversational commands as well. Say that you’re cold and it will intelligently know that this means to turn the heat up a few degrees. Play music in one room then ask it to play in another as you move, or ask it to play something everywhere. Custom routines can now also be created completely by voice, so you don’t need to even open the app.
Buying Through Alexa+
Like with Alexa, you can make purchases through Amazon using voice commands to Alexa+. Get help while searching for an item on Amazon, including suggestions based on your interests as well as feature comparisons, review summaries, and complementary item suggestions. If you’re ready to order, let it know you’re running low on something, like laundry detergent. It will check the brands it knows you like (on Amazon, of course), confirm pricing, then place the order for you. Alexa+ can also help add ingredients needed for a recipe, even alert you when there’s a sale on items you need.
Are There Canadian-Specific Features?
Alexa Plus Canada
Alexa+ does indeed have features specifically tailored to Canadian users. It can recognize regional expressions. It has knowledge of Canadian sports teams (though Alexa likely had that information, too). The smart assistant also focuses on recognizing and appreciating Canadian music and culture, as well as Canadian-specific topics. Alexa+ works with Canadian companies, too, like providing news headlines from CBC or connecting you with Canadian artists.
Privacy for Conversations
All the Alexa-enabled devices have the same privacy as they always have, including a visual indicator that advises whenever Alexa+ is listening. At any time, you can visit the Alexa Privacy dashboard to control your privacy settings and review interactions.
How Much Does it Cost and When Is It Available?
Alexa Plus Echo
Alexa+ is currently available in Early Access phase for English-speaking Canadians. It’s $28/mo., about the same as Google Home Premium Advanced, which is $26/mo. But the major news: it’s free if you’re an Amazon Prime member. And let’s face it, who isn’t nowadays? To be among the first to try it, purchase a new eligible Echo device, or sign up for Early Access if you already own one.
The fact that Amazon is rolling Alexa+ into an existing Amazon Prime subscription is encouraging. The more natural, conversational way of communicating is the next evolution in voice assistance. With Alexa+ as well as Google Home, AI is now finding its way into our homes in a big way, beyond just our mobile and computing devices.
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