I owned a number of Alexa-powered gadgets in my former dwelling: There have been Amazon Echos in most rooms, together with an older Echo Plus in the lounge, a smattering of Dots, a Spot in a bed room, and an Echo Present within the kitchen. A Fireplace TV ran within the bed room. And, in a drawer, a not often used Fireplace HD pill sat gathering mud.
With the full lack of the house as a consequence of a March 2024 home hearth, there additionally got here a brand new alternative: We may now make a recent begin to create a extra modernized sensible dwelling after rebuilding our home. However whether or not Alexa nonetheless deserves to be the middle of our related dwelling stays to be seen.
To seek out out whether or not Alexa remains to be the very best sensible assistant for my household, I’m going to check Amazon’s AI-powered gadgets, experiment with AI queries, and write out my ideas in a multi-part collection. With this collection, I hope to supply customers insights as to how nicely Alexa works in varied real-world conditions, not firm demos.
Alexa wanted to catch up
Amazon’s assistant, which as soon as gave its customers Star Trek vibes as they ordered their dwelling pc to shut the blinds or flip off the lights or order milk, now not appears as revolutionary within the ChatGPT period. As we speak, folks can interact with AI through textual content and voice chat. Trendy AI chatbots and AI-powered providers can reply so many extra questions, are imaginative, can purpose, can create pictures and artwork, and generate movies, and with the agentic AI, they will even carry out on-line duties in your behalf.
In February 2025, Amazon introduced an entire makeover of its digital voice assistant with the arrival of Alexa+, powered by generative AI. That service started rolling out slowly to clients in March and is now accessible to “many tens of millions” of customers, Amazon says. The system can be model-agnostic, which means Alexa+ can use no matter she wants within the second to reply the query or full the duty. Alexa+ is utilizing fashions from Anthropic and Amazon Nova, amongst others.
The corporate teased that this improved Alexa may do greater than set timers and alarms, management sensible dwelling gadgets, and reply questions. She leverages generative AI to make sense of data saved in Amazon customers’ accounts, perceive their schedules, and their preferences. She will bear in mind issues, course of recordsdata, and summarize a Ring digicam’s footage.
Notably, Amazon says it’s been working with companions to permit it to take actions for folks, like reserving dinner reservations or Uber rides, or shopping for live performance tickets. Integrations with Amazon’s personal grocery service may even have it make procuring lists by talking to it, after which have these merchandise delivered. Basically, it’s aiming to carry agentic AI into the house.
However earlier than we are able to get to that, let’s see how Alexa+ handles the fundamentals.
Within the first a part of this collection, I’m going to arrange Alexa+, use the app, and ask the assistant some questions that solely the brand new Alexa+ can do. Later, I’ll check the agentic AI options and sensible dwelling integrations.
Organising Alexa+ on an Echo Spot
Machine: Echo Spot
Default music service: Spotify (Premium)
Earlier than transferring to my new dwelling, I put Alexa+ to the check on a brand-new Echo Spot after being accepted into the beta. Since I couldn’t but hook up sensible dwelling gadgets within the Airbnb that’s served as a brief residence for over a yr, I initially tried to check the gadget’s AI in different methods.
Primarily, I needed to know if Alexa+ was actually all that sensible and helpful, and if she may do all of the issues Amazon promised.
Organising the Spot was simpler than it was with previous gadgets, as now you solely must scan a QR code to get the method began within the Alexa app. The app related robotically to the house’s Wi-Fi; no extra bizarre toggling between the gadget’s community and your individual Wi-Fi.
On the subsequent display screen, I accepted the invite to improve to the brand new Alexa+ totally free, figuring out that it’s nonetheless attainable to downgrade to the previous Alexa service at any time, if issues go mistaken.
Onboarding included a brief video that defined that Alexa would study extra as I take advantage of her, and instructed me on methods to discuss to Alexa. I then related my Google account, giving Alexa entry to my inbox and calendar.
I ended up on a clean web page after doing so, oddly, however after closing the window, the display screen knowledgeable me that my “Account Linked.” (Disclosure: I’m operating the iOS 26 developer beta on my iPhone, so perhaps that’s the issue?)
On the next display screen, I picked the providers I needed to make use of with Alexa+, which in the present day embrace OpenTable, Ticketmaster, Uber, and Thumbtack. I checked all of the containers, then moved to the next display screen to grant the mandatory permissions, one after the other.
Whereas it’s a bit tedious to take action — and one thing that may very well be much more tedious in time as extra providers are added — I did respect that it felt like I used to be answerable for the information sharing and will see precisely what every service was requesting earlier than agreeing.
The next display screen confirmed that Fodor’s journey planning service was already built-in with Alexa+, however it didn’t require permissions. It additionally famous that providers like Uber Eats, Grubhub, and Vagaro can be added in a while.
The Alexa app itself remains to be sorely missing in person interface design. Regardless of many updates, the app nonetheless feels in some way each plain and too busy. It lacks coloration and conventional cellular app navigation patterns, and it tries to cram too many examples of “issues to do” on its dwelling display screen.
In the meantime, attempting to find methods to do the mandatory first steps — like linking my most popular music service — is buried within the interface. Nope, you don’t faucet in your profile icon, Settings, after which scroll all the way down to “Most popular service suppliers.” For some purpose, that’s the place you set your most popular Information, Calendar, and E mail suppliers, however not your most popular Music service.
As an alternative, you faucet on the hamburger menu on the backside of the display screen. You then faucet on the “Music & Extra” display screen. (What’s the “Extra”? Podcasts? Audiobooks?)
I set Spotify as my default music service, the default alternative for artists and style stations, and the default for podcasts. There was no choice to set my default audiobooks service.
On this part, there was additionally a listing of providers I had beforehand linked with Alexa. Right here, Amazon’s Audible — which I would like to set because the default for audiobooks — was listed alongside different streamers, like Pandora, Amazon Music, Apple Music, and others. However after I tapped on Audible, I merely acquired an error that claims “You’ve reached the tip of Alexa’s information. Simply kidding. This ability now not exists. Click on right here to return.”
Uh, OK. I imply, wouldn’t it not make sense to only take away the damaged factor that now not exists?
In any occasion, I’m right here to strive Alexa+, not yell at a poorly designed cellular app.
I’ll work out audiobooks later, I suppose.
Notice for this collection:
In these assessments, I could have shared private info with Alexa that I can’t be publishing. In these circumstances, I’ll put an outline of the merchandise — like “little one’s faculty” — in [brackets]. I’ve additionally barely modified a number of the dates, occasions, and numbers to additional obscure any private info that may very well be used to develop an understanding of my accounts, conferences, or family routines.
Can Alexa+ handle the household’s schedule?
Busy households, particularly ones with youngsters, typically use a household calendar to trace actions, physician’s appointments, errands, conferences, lessons, and extra. Our household calendar is maintained in Google Calendar, accessed on our telephones via the native Google Calendar app, and on Mac desktops through the calendar app Fantastical.
Amazon means that Alexa+ can assist summarize your day, add new occasions to your calendar, determine conflicts, and extra.
In observe, Alexa was pretty adept at letting me inquire in regards to the schedule and varied occasions, however she interrupted me after I was asking so as to add a brand new assembly to my calendar. I stated, “Are you able to add a gathering to my calendar on August 6 at 2 p.m. with [entity] about—” Right here she minimize me off to ask, “What would you wish to title this assembly?”
Annoying, however not end-of-the-world horrible, I suppose.
I used to be extra simply in a position to ask issues like “What’s on my calendar in the present day?” and observe as much as ask additional questions — like if there have been any conferences later within the week or to repeat one of many appointments. I didn’t need to say “Alexa” once more to proceed the dialog. It felt extra pure, however there’s a really slight lag together with her responses at occasions.
(As an apart, after I went to search out the historical past of my voice chats for penning this put up, I requested Alexa the place they may very well be discovered. She advised me to look within the app’s Settings below the Extra menu, then search for Alexa Privateness or Assessment Voice Historical past. She’s mistaken. Neither possibility was there. I did, nonetheless, discover my historical past from the “Latest Chats” hyperlink on the app’s dwelling display screen. Alexa, c’mon! Know thyself.)
Alexa, bear in mind this
One other factor Alexa+ is meant to have the ability to do is retailer info in your behalf. To check this out, I requested her to recollect my frequent flier quantity. This interplay went poorly.
Me: Alexa, are you able to bear in mind my Delta SkyMiles quantity?
Alexa: Positive, I’d be joyful to recollect your Delta SkyMiles quantity for you. What’s the quantity?
Me: *opens mouth to talk*
Alexa: I’ve added that to Bear in mind This within the Alexa privateness part of the app. Additionally, take into account that anybody who has entry to any of your Alexa gadgets can use their voice to listen to its contents.
Um, what? I attempted once more.
Me: Alexa, are you able to bear in mind my SkyMiles quantity?
Alexa: Definitely! I’d be joyful to recollect your SkyMiles quantity for you. What’s the quantity? OK, saved it.
She didn’t even take a breath!
Curious, I requested her what she thinks the quantity is. She responded, “I don’t have your SkyMiles quantity saved but. Would you want to inform me your quantity now?”
Me: Sure.
Alexa: OK, go forward and inform me your Delta SkyMiles quantity.
Me: [says the eight-digit number]
Alexa: OK, saved it.
Me: What’s my SkyMiles quantity?
Alexa: “600 fifty-two million, 4 hundred eighty-six thousand…”
(Notice: I modified the quantity for the aim of this put up, however sure, Alexa learn it out like a protracted numeral as a substitute of simply saying 6-5-2-4-8-6, and so forth. Not useful!)
Alexa, learn my e mail
Alexa+ can now supposedly perceive paperwork you add within the Alexa app or ahead to her at alexa@alexa.com utilizing the e-mail deal with related together with your Amazon account.
To do that, I forwarded an e mail from my little one’s faculty. These come regularly and have a number of helpful info in them, however are sometimes misplaced within the inbox. Maybe if Alexa can deal with this activity, a brand new Gmail forwarding filter is so as?
Me: Alexa, summarize the latest e mail from faculty.
Alexa: The latest e mail from [my child’s school] is a welcome-back letter for the 2025-2026 faculty yr. It declares an “Early Begin Day” orientation on August [date] for brand new college students, with an info session for brand new dad and mom that night. Common lessons start on August [date].
Me: Was there any info particularly for [grade] in that e mail?
Alexa: I don’t see any info particularly for [grade] in that e mail. The letter primarily covers common faculty info, orientation dates, and vital deadlines for all college students.
Nice, that labored, it appears. However right here’s the place issues acquired a bit of trickier.
Me: Are there any vital dates I ought to add to my calendar?
Alexa: *repeats the vital dates from above*
Me: Are you able to add these to my calendar for me?
Alexa: (Which will need to have misheard me?) Checking your calendar. Sarah, your calendar is wanting busy. You could have [activity] ongoing till August sixteenth, you’ve got [activity]. On Thursday—
Me: (interrupting) I used to be asking should you may add the dates within the e mail to my calendar for me?
Alexa: Definitely, I’ll try this. (Pause) I’ve added the next dates to your calendar:
- Course Correction Request Interval from August [date] via August [date]
- New Scholar Orientation Early Begin Day on August [date, time]
- First Day of College on August [date]
Is there anything you’d like me so as to add?
Whereas this course of appears environment friendly and is actually useful in a pinch, you’ll discover I left it as much as Alexa to find out which dates had been “vital.” In consequence, she picked the three dates closest to in the present day. The e-mail itself, nonetheless, contained a listing of 12 vital faculty dates, together with issues like Meet the Instructor Evening, Open Home, Midyear Commencement, and extra.
All of them had been formatted the identical method within the e mail below the heading “Necessary Dates.” Had I solely relied on Alexa and had not learn the e-mail itself, I might have missed these.
Oh, pricey.
Alexa, assist me get monetary savings
One other Alexa+ promise is that she can assist you monitor costs on Amazon so it can save you cash when issues go on sale. All proper, I’ll chew! I like on-line procuring.
I made a decision to strive monitoring a few issues, together with one skincare merchandise and a Coach purse. These are issues I undoubtedly don’t want, however need — the sorts of issues the place a reduction may immediate a purchase order.
Me: Alexa, I wish to know when the Glow Recipe Plum Plumping and Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Pores and skin Care Serum goes on sale.
Alexa: Only a second … I’ve arrange a deal tracker for the Glow Recipe Plum Plumping Serum. I’ll notify you when it goes on sale.
Me: How a lot is it proper now?
Alexa: *silence*
Me: Did you hear me?
Alexa: Checking on that. Sure, I heard you. I’ve already arrange a deal tracker for the Glow Recipe Plum Plumping Serum. You’ll get a notification when it goes on sale.
Me: How a lot is it now?
Alexa: *Extra silence.*
OK, I suppose we’ll wait on that one.
Subsequent up, I attempted the purse.
Me: Alexa, I wish to know when the Coach Swinger purse goes on sale.
Alexa: Definitely, I’ll examine that. Received it! I arrange a deal tracker for the Coach Swinger purse. I’ll let when it goes on sale.
Me: Is it out of inventory in blue?
Alexa: *Silence*
Me: Is the Coach purse I simply requested you about out of inventory in blue? (Notice: It was, per Amazon’s web site on the time of the request.)
Alexa: Let me examine that for you. (Lengthy pause) I discovered the Coach Swinger purse, however it’s presently accessible in black. The blue possibility isn’t exhibiting up within the search outcomes, which could imply it’s out of inventory. Would you want extra particulars in regards to the accessible choices?
Me: No.
The Coach Swinger purse in blue does present up on the product web page on the net, for what it’s value; it’s listed as “briefly out of inventory.” The bag can be accessible in each black and pink, however Alexa solely talked about the black possibility for some purpose. Not tremendous useful.
And we’ll have to attend to see if it ever goes on sale.
Off to a gradual begin
With these first introductory assessments, Alexa+ appears very very similar to a beta product. She’s attempting however is inclined to creating errors and never being thorough. Typically, she doesn’t even appear to listen to me or doesn’t know what to do.
Provided that many of those are out-of-the-box options that don’t require integrations, you must surprise how nicely Alexa+ will do at navigating the net and taking motion for you.
Within the subsequent installment of this collection, I’ll proceed testing the AI and can strive a number of the agentic AI options with Alexa+.
