Amazon has rolled out Alexa+ across the United States, CNBC reported on Tuesday.
Alexa+, launched last year, was offered on a limited basis through an initial waitlist, but all users can now access it. Alexa+ is an upgraded AI voice assistant compared with the existing Alexa. It can handle several tasks at once and can also run errands such as booking a repair worker or calling an Uber.
Users can access Alexa+ for $19.99 a month, and Prime members, who pay $139 a year, can use it at no additional cost. A free version may have some features limited depending on usage.
Daniel Rausch (다니엘 라우쉬), vice president of Alexa and Echo, said Alexa+ has tens of millions of users and that the frequency of conversations with users has increased 2 to 3 times. He said users are continuing to make more use of it as they learn and explore the product's features.
The existing Alexa, launched in 2014, offered a voice-based AI experience through Amazon's Echo smart speaker, but Alexa+ supports both text and voice input with a focus on its website and app.
Chi-gyu Hwang
delight@d-today.co.kr