I don’t like my Alexa I want to swap it out with Google. alexa for reminders is trash.
Apple competitor Amazon is working on a revamp of its Alexa assistant, and the new version could cost up $10 per month, according to a report from Reuters. The upcoming version of Alexa will support conversational generative AI, and Amazon is planning for two tiers of service.
There will be a free tier and a second, premium tier that is priced at $5 at a minimum, with Amazon considering price points ranging from $5 to $10. Amazon does not plan to include the premium Alexa tier with its $139 per year Prime subscription.
Amazon has not made significant updates to Alexa in the last decade, and it has fallen behind other AI products that have started to adopt large language models. Alexa is free and built into Amazon devices, so Amazon does not make money directly from it as of now. Some employees that spoke to Reuters said the revamp is a "desperate attempt" to revitalize Alexa, and Amazon executives have suggested it is imperative Alexa demonstrate it can generate "meaningful" sales.
The updated version of Alexa, which Amazon calls "Remarkable Alexa" internally, is expected to be able to do things like craft emails, give shopping advice, and order delivery from Uber Eats. Amazon also wants to improve the way that Alexa controls smart home products, with Alexa able to learn how to automate routines.
Amazon is aiming to have the updated version of Alexa finished by August, which would see it launch later this year. Apple is working on a similarly updated version of Siri that also incorporates large language models, though many of the new Siri functions won't be coming until 2025.
Article Link: Amazon Could Charge Up to $10/Month for Alexa
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Amazon Could Charge Up to $10/Month for Alexa
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I only use Alexa for random information, weather updates, music/lighting control, and delivery status. I assume such basic uses will remain free. This whole AI hype is of no interest to me.
I chose Alexa over HomePods because Apple’s price gouging tactics and that Siri is pathetic bad. Apple lost out on the home assistant market. Another Cook legacy.
I chose Alexa over HomePods because Apple’s price gouging tactics and that Siri is pathetic bad. Apple lost out on the home assistant market. Another Cook legacy.
Well that’s the point, for big businesses.
If they’ve laid off most of the Alexa teams, and canceled support for Alexa devices, and have now resorted to rebooting the entire business model to be subscription based, I would ask *what* home assistant market? I’m including Siri in this.
It seems there’s no money in the home *assistant* (make sure you do not read that as home automation) concept, so it should be viewed as a feature of a platform rather than a revenue generating *product*.
There will always be a home assistant market.
Well, not really. To use Apples AI you need a new iPhone or a iPhone 15 Pro. Hardly what I would call free.
As long as I can still use it to turn the lights and fan on and off I'm happy. I expect the free version will still do that. More complex tasks will require the subscription I'd imagine.
Well, it's ironic to read this on MR. I suspect Apple takes way more of your money than Amazon.
Apple competitor Amazon is working on a revamp of its Alexa assistant, and the new version could cost up $10 per month, according to a report from Reuters. The upcoming version of Alexa will support conversational generative AI, and Amazon is planning for two tiers of service.
There will be a free tier and a second, premium tier that is priced at $5 at a minimum, with Amazon considering price points ranging from $5 to $10. Amazon does not plan to include the premium Alexa tier with its $139 per year Prime subscription.
Amazon has not made significant updates to Alexa in the last decade, and it has fallen behind other AI products that have started to adopt large language models. Alexa is free and built into Amazon devices, so Amazon does not make money directly from it as of now. Some employees that spoke to Reuters said the revamp is a "desperate attempt" to revitalize Alexa, and Amazon executives have suggested it is imperative Alexa demonstrate it can generate "meaningful" sales.
The updated version of Alexa, which Amazon calls "Remarkable Alexa" internally, is expected to be able to do things like craft emails, give shopping advice, and order delivery from Uber Eats. Amazon also wants to improve the way that Alexa controls smart home products, with Alexa able to learn how to automate routines.
Amazon is aiming to have the updated version of Alexa finished by August, which would see it launch later this year. Apple is working on a similarly updated version of Siri that also incorporates large language models, though many of the new Siri functions won't be coming until 2025.
Article Link: Amazon Could Charge Up to $10/Month for Alexa
This will be as wildly successful as Amazon’s smartphone.
I would never purchase anything related to Alexa or anything else I don't want it listening in my home I certainly wouldn't pay for it it's crappy
I was impressed I could ask, "Alexa, flash briefing" every morning and hear PBR/BBC news feeds with no commercials. The ads started about a year ago, but only one up-front. I dropped prime last month, and the flash briefings still work, as do the timers in the kitchen; but I imagine those days are numbered too.
I did like setting a wake alarm with it too, until I retired.
...but I won't be paying for any of that.
I did like setting a wake alarm with it too, until I retired.
...but I won't be paying for any of that.
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This will be the end for Alexa. And this is coming from an Alexa user. Also, prime is starting to not be worth it. I don't watch much of their TV programming, and the $25 free shipping is adequate.
It’s gonna be an option. They’re not gonna let all these Alexa devices sit there not being used to charge $10 or so to use them.
Music to Tim’s ears. Amazon is not the only company cooking up new ways to separate you from your money. Investors demand it.
Rather eat a **** sandwich than have an amazon microphone in my home.
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You physically remove them from the board.
My LG smart Tv would randomly pickup my voice randomly and reply it couldn’t understand my query. I have it tuned off. I never use it.
I open the remote and physically ripped the microphone out.
Problem solved.