Amazon’s AI supercharged Alexa could be unveiled this month

Amazon has sent out invites for a mysterious event scheduled for the 26th of February. This has led to speculation about what the tech giant has in store. While the invite itself doesn’t explicitly mention Alexa, its swirly patterns and vibrant colors hint at something to do with the digital assistant. Could Amazon be finally ready to unveil its AI supercharged Alexa?

Back in 2023, Amazon announced plans to revamp Alexa with generative AI capabilities. This would allow Alexa to better compete with newer AI models such as Google’s Gemini and OpenAI’s ChatGPT. However, nothing has really materialized since that announcement. This upcoming event could finally show us what Amazon has been working on for the past few years.

The new AI supercharged Alexa is expected to make the digital assistant even smarter and potentially more contextual. This is thanks to its generative capabilities. Alexa is currently best known for powering Amazon’s lineup of smart speakers and smart displays. If done right, it could change how users interact with their smart home devices. It would also make Alexa a more valuable assistant in the smart home space.

However, while this new Alexa sounds promising, Amazon has hinted that access to its advanced AI features may come at a cost. Before you get too disappointed, a report from Reuters suggests that Amazon might hold off on charging users at the start. The company might introduce a paid subscription further down the road, but for now, it will be free.

Presumably the company wants to give users more time to experience the changes before deciding if it is worth paying for. Note that other companies, such as Google and OpenAI, already charge users for access to more advanced models. This move by Amazon wouldn’t be entirely out of the question.