Alexa+, Amazon?s much-hyped upgrade to its virtual assistant, is finally rolling out?but it?s arriving with a noticeable lack of the features that were promised during its demo just last month.
According to reporting from The Washington Post, internal Amazon documents reveal that many of Alexa+?s headline features have been delayed for at least two months, if not longer. These include functionalities such as ordering food via Grubhub, recognizing family members through smart cameras to trigger chore reminders, and auto-generating bedtime stories for kids.
Other anticipated capabilities?like brainstorming gift ideas, ordering groceries, or accessing Alexa+ through a browser-based interface?are also on hold. Amazon says the delays are due to these features not yet meeting its internal standards for public release.
So what can Alexa+ do right now? According to Amazon?s early access page, the AI assistant currently supports basic tasks such as ordering an Uber, identifying objects, and drafting emails. It?s a limited start for a platform positioned as a flagship evolution of Amazon?s AI efforts.
Alexa+ is free for Amazon Prime members, while non-members will need to pay $20 per month for access. The rollout is happening gradually and is currently limited to devices with screens, including the Echo Show 8, 10, 15, and the recently announced Echo Show 21.
The situation mirrors recent trends in AI rollouts from major tech companies. Both Apple Intelligence and Galaxy AI launched earlier this year with several promised features postponed, highlighting an industry-wide challenge: ambitious demos often outpace production readiness.
With expectations set high, the question now is whether Alexa+ can catch up?and deliver on its AI potential.