Amazon has rolled out a major update to Alexa+, expanding the Artificial Intelligence (AI) assistant’s capabilities across more of your devices. Unlike the traditional Alexa, which relied on specific voice commands, Alexa+ relies on AI to understand natural language, handle complex requests, and remember the context of earlier conversations.
With the latest update, Amazon has expanded how much Alexa+ can do with existing smart home gadgets. Household goods from Bosch, Whirlpool, iRobot, and Eufy already work with Alexa, but the new AI-powered developer toolkit lets manufacturers expose more of the built-in features to the chatty assistant.
Previously, you had to give precise commands via Alexa Skills installed for each device, such as "Alexa, ask Roomba to start vacuuming" or “Alexa, change [Light Name] to the colour blue.”
But with expanded capabilities, you can make more natural requests, such as “Clean the kitchen before my guests arrive” or “Wash these muddy clothes but make sure they don’t shrink.”
Alexa+ can check other applications — like a calendar — or check the individual settings on each smart home device — like the types of wash cycles available — to determine the best plan to meet the intent behind the request.
The really clever bit is that Alexa+ can now automatically figure out which device you're talking about and send it to the right place. For example, you might have a washing machine with 30 different cycle options.
But now Amazon says you can tell Alexa+ something like, "My kid's football jersey needs a proper deep clean, but the label says cold wash only." Rather than you scrolling through menus, Alexa+ will sift through all those settings and pick the right one.
But it doesn't stop there. Alexa+ also picks up on your habits and preferences over time. It can then suggest automated Routines to make life easier — like having your coffee machine start brewing the moment your morning alarm goes off. It could also have your robot vacuum running every Saturday morning.
You'll need a smart home device that's been updated with the Alexa+ developer toolkit to take advantage of these new, conversational voice commands.
Alexa+'s update feels like a major step up from Amazon Dash buttons, which were physical shortcuts that let you quickly reorder household essentials like detergent or coffee to your door. It was another way for the company to pre-empt your needs before it was cancelled back in 2019.
Frank Zhu, Senior Vice President of Anker Innovations & Eufy CEO, said: "We believe managing a smart home should be as easy as the convenience it provides. We are excited to use the new smart home toolkit to expand our smart home device integrations with Alexa+. Customers will be able to access more functionalities and control a wide range of capabilities by simply asking Alexa+."
The update arrives as more are taking advantage of the revamped Alexa+.
Amazon says customers are engaging with Alexa 23 times more than before, across a wider variety of topics and tasks. When it comes to integrated services with brands specifically, interactions have jumped sixfold — from discovering options to completing bookings entirely through Alexa+.
Cobus Kok, VP of AI Experiences at Priceline, a hotel deals comparison service in the US, said: "By bringing Priceline’s hotel inventory and personalized recommendations to Alexa+, we’re giving travelers a simple way to discover and book the right stay through conversation. Customers can explore hotel options, get recommendations based on their needs, and book directly with Alexa+."
And more companies are expected to join the list. Canva and Virgin Atlantic are among many other brands that are set to launch their Alexa+ integrations later this year. Priceline, for instance, will let customers browse hotels and book trips entirely through a conversation with Alexa+.
