The table is set for Alexa’s big AI reveal, with Amazon holding a long-delayed “devices and services” event in New York City this Wednesday, February 26.
So, what’s on the menu? Good question. For its part, Amazon has offered a few hints, noting that Wednesday’s unveiling with be “Alexa-focused.” Meanwhile, tech sleuths have discovered that if you assemble the various press invites Amazon sent out for the gathering, you can spell out the “Alexa” logo.
Of course, what we’re all waiting to see is whether Amazon’s long-promised AI revamp for Alexa is ready for prime time.
The last time we saw the new AI Alexa was way back in fall 2023, and since then, there’s been a great deal of chatter about false starts, delays, and reversals in Amazon’s AI strategy for Alexa. There’s also been talk that Amazon might charge extra for access to the revamped Alexa (we understand the “Classic” Alexa will remain free).
While not much is certain about Wednesday’s Amazon event, we can make some educated guesses. Here are four things I’m expecting to see.
This news story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart speakers.
A more modest AI Alexa
Amazon hasn’t specifically said whether the AI-supercharged Alexa revamp will take the stage on Wednesday, but I’d be mighty surprised if it didn’t make an appearance.
Specifically, I’m hoping to see what the new Alexa will actually be able to do. At Amazon’s reveal back in September 2023, the AI Alexa was holding chatty conversations about football and writing party invites, while a somewhat aspirational teaser depicted Alexa dispatching a robot vacuum to the kitchen after someone reported a mess in the room.
Neat, but I’m guessing the new Alexa to have a more modest range of abilities, at least initially. Google, for example, has put some pretty narrow guardrails up for Gemini’s smart home capabilities, and I expect we’ll see something similar for Alexa. I’m also anticipating that the new Alexa’s freewheeling conversational style may be somewhat curtailed, but we’ll see.
A “soft” launch date
Another missing piece of the puzzle is when the new Alexa will finally arrive. Back in the fall of 2023, Amazon told us to expect a “preview” of the AI-revamped voice assistant by early 2024; of course, that didn’t happen. So, when will we get to kick the tires on the new Alexa?
I’m not expecting Amazon to suddenly throw open the gates to Alexa redux on Wednesday; rather, I suspect we’ll have to wait at least a month or so. That’s in line with a Washington Post report that said Amazon had delayed the new Alexa yet again, with the new launch date pushed back to late March, or even later.
Also, I doubt we’ll all get to try AI Alexa all at once. Instead, expect a staged and slow rollout, with a small preview audience to start.
Shortly after Amazon showed off the revamped Alexa back in September 2023, former Amazon devices chief Dave Limp floated the idea of charging for a “remarkable” new Alexa—with estimates putting the price in the $5 to $10-per-month range–while keeping “classic” Alexa free.
I’m sure Amazon still wants to charge for the new Alexa eventually, but there’s been chatter than the initial preview of the AI-enhanced Alexa will be free, and I’d wager that’s what we’ll be told on Wednesday.
A new Echo Dot
Amazon always has new hardware to show off at its device events, and while I don’t expect a firehose of new products—after all, Amazon has recently debuted new Kindles and Fire TV models as well the humongous Echo Show 21 and a second-generation Echo Show 15. Nonetheless, there are some other Echo devices overdue for updates.
The Echo Dot, for example, hasn’t seen a refresh in nearly three years, while the Echo Show 10 with its swiveling screen is getting similarly long in the tooth.
While Amazon may take advantage of its Alexa AI unveiling (or rather, re-unveiling) to show off new Echo devices, it’s worth nothing that Amazon previously promised that the new Alexa would work on existing Echo hardware.
I’ll be attending Amazon’s big reveal on Wednesday, and I’m planning on some serious hands-on time. Stay tuned.