The era of utilising Alexa for free advice, queries and requests could soon be over. It’s believed that Amazon is developing a more advanced version of its smart assistant, which users will need to pay for.
This information comes from a recent report by Reuters, suggesting Amazon is planning a significant overhaul of its decade-old, loss-making Alexa service. Those willing to shell out could gain access to a premium upgrade, empowering Alexa to handle more complex tasks and queries.
For instance, the rumoured paid version of Alexa might be capable of drafting an email, sending it, and then ordering your evening takeaway from companies like Uber Eats with a single voice command. Alexa could also become much more conversational and even intelligent enough to learn your routines.
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So, if you make coffee every morning after your alarm rings, it could automatically switch on the kitchen lights and start the kettle, reports the Express. While there’s no official confirmation of the update, Amazon has hinted at potential improvements.
In a message to shareholders earlier this year, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy confirmed that the company was working on a “substantial number of GenAI applications across every Amazon consumer business,” including “an even more intelligent and capable Alexa.”
Back in June, Reuters was the first to report on this new assistant and now, some experts are hinting that its launch could be just around the corner. Rumours suggest it will set you back around £7.70 per month.
Since its debut in 2017, Alexa has become a household name, answering millions of voice requests every month. However, despite its widespread use, Amazon doesn’t currently earn an extra penny from customers.
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Once an Alexa-powered device – like an Echo speaker – is bought, the talkative assistant is completely free to use, which according to the Wall Street Journal, is costing Amazon billions in potential revenue. Now, it appears Amazon finally wants to turn this service into a money-maker.
At present, there’s no indication the free version of Alexa will be discontinued, but it seems a premium offering is on the horizon. It’s likely that the initial launch will happen in the US, with other regions following suit.
Would you fork out for Alexa? Let us know in the comments below.
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