Amazon Showcases New Alexa AI Capabilities Amidst Looming Rollout Delays

eCommerce giant Amazon is hosting a major event on 26 February to showcase Alexa’s new capabilities. The newly overhauled voice assistant will bring Alexa services into the generative AI age, Reuters reported.

Although the company has not provided details about the event, the New York-based head of devices said it will be focused on Amazon Alexa AI. Sources close to the company also said Amazon will use the event to unveil a secret project dubbed Banyan. This new project is designed to boost Alexa conversational abilities.

Significant Milestone

Amazon’s AI-powered Alexa is a voice-controlled software that can be installed in products like smart speakers. It’s capable of performing a wide range of tasks including playing music, responding to user questions, and setting timers. Additionally, users can link it to internet-connected devices and use it as a home automation hub. This way, the range of tasks can be extended so users can use voice prompts to perform tasks like turning lights on or off.

The new Alexa conversational AI service marks a significant milestone for Amazon. The company has invested billions of dollars into the voice assistant since 2014 when it was launched. These investments have been driven by the expectation that the new Alexa AI service will be available on a range of tech devices. Amazon also expects the AI assistant to drive sales on its e-commerce website.

Better Capabilities

The Classic Alexa, which is the voice assistant version that is currently in the market, only handles one request at a time. Amazon’s new voice assistant is expected to offer users enhanced capabilities that allow it to respond to multiple prompts in sequence. Amazon executives say it’s capable of taking actions on behalf of users even without their direct involvement. This ability enables it to serve as an agent.

According to Amazon, consumers currently hold about 500 million Alexa-capable devices. This means that a revamp to the new service presents a huge opportunity for the e-commerce giant to make money. The financial risk is equally as big if the company fails to meet customer expectations.

The executives at the company are considering charging up to $10 every month for the new service in order to recover some of the investment. Amazon plans to roll out the new service to a selected group of consumers in the coming months. During this period, the company will continue offering the Classic Alexa version to users free of charge.

Expected Release Date

Reports indicate that Alexa generative AI release date could be delayed for about a month after the showcase event. This delay has been attributed to the fact that the new assistant gave inaccurate responses to test queries. Internal sources have indicated that the upgraded version may not be available until March 31 or later.

News of the delayed rollout came following months of rumors alleging that Amazon was experiencing challenges actualizing its plan to upgrade Alexa AI. In 2023, the e-commerce company had said this process would take months. In 2024, the company postponed the launch again following reports of stiff, slow, and less useful responses.

Amazon isn’t the only tech company that is struggling to upgrade its voice assistant with AI. Apple is allegedly experiencing similar issues with its Siri AI upgrade. There were expectations that the upgrade would come in iOS 18.4. However, the upgraded capabilities may be delayed fully to iOS 18.5 that’s set to launch in May, or the capabilities may be limited.

Amazon may tie the new Alexa AI service to a subscription that allows users to users to access features like recall conversations, adopt a personality, call a taxi, or order takeout