Importance Score: 45 / 100 🔵
Amazon Responds to Claims of Limited Alexa Plus Availability
Following a recent report questioning the accessibility of Amazon’s new Alexa Plus AI, the tech giant has issued a firm rebuttal. The report, which highlighted the difficulty in finding firsthand accounts of users engaging with the enhanced AI assistant, prompted Amazon to clarify the availability of Alexa Plus, emphasizing its accessibility to a substantial user base.
Amazon’s Stance on Alexa Plus Availability
In response to inquiries about the report, Amazon, through spokesperson Eric Sveum, provided a direct statement asserting the contrary. The statement, delivered via email, disputed claims that Alexa Plus isn’t available.
The full statement reads:
It’s simply wrong to say that Alexa+ isn’t available to customers—that assertion is false. Hundreds of thousands of customers have access to Alexa+ and we’re constantly inviting more customers that have requested Early Access.
Early Access Invitations and User Base
According to Amazon, a significant number of users have already gained access to the AI-enhanced Alexa Plus through an early access program.
Key points on user access:
- Hundreds of thousands of customers have access.
- Amazon is consistently extending invitations to users who have requested early access.
Context: Alexa Plus and its Features
Alexa Plus represents Amazon’s upgrade to its Alexa virtual assistant, incorporating generative AI capabilities. Announced earlier this year, the service is available to Amazon Prime subscribers at no additional cost or offered as a standalone subscription.
Contradictory Reports and User Evidence
Despite Amazon’s claims, previous reports suggested a scarcity of real-world users, with efforts to locate individuals actively using Alexa Plus yielding limited results. Some reports detail extensive searches across various online platforms that failed to produce verifiable accounts of Alexa Plus usage.
Conversely, other outlets have indicated that email invitations for Alexa Plus trials have been distributed to Amazon Alexa users, with Amazon sources stating that “hundreds of thousands” of consumers have tried the assistant.
Ongoing Development and Feature Rollout
Amazon commenced the early access program rollout at the close of March. The initial release lacked complete features, but the company has indicated some functions are “coming soon”.
Features still forthcoming include:
- Alexa Plus access through a web browser.
- Alexa Plus access on Fire TV and Amazon tablets.
The organization has also communicated prioritization for those that own specific Echo Show devices over others.