Amazon’s new and improved Alexa experience, Alexa+, starts at $19.99, or free for Amazon Prime subscribers. Amazon says that it will roll out in early access beginning next month, and then will come to a wider group of users in waves over the subsequent months.
As part of the launch of Alexa+, Amazon is debuting Alexa.com, a new web experience that’s designed for “long-form” work. It’s also introducing a refreshed Alexa mobile app with a new interface and functionality.
“Today with generative AI and a completely re-architected Alexa, we’re moving the world from chatbots to something entirely new,” Amazon’s devices and services chief Panos Panay said onstage.
At $19.99, Alexa+ is competitive with other generative AI-powered chatbots on the market. Both OpenAI’s entry-level paid ChatGPT plan and the premium version of Google’s Gemini assistant, Gemini Advanced, also cost $19.99.
The price is higher than was rumored, however. Reports suggested that Amazon would charge between $5 to $10 for the upgraded Alexa, possibly with a generous free trial to start.
