Amazon’s Revamped AI-Enabled Alexa Might Be Coming Out in October

• 5 internal sources from Amazon revealed that the revamped version of Alexa might be coming out in October.
• Unlike the classic version, which is free, the new AI-powered Alexa will probably cost around $5 to $10 a month.
• Interestingly, Amazon's own AI technology failed to meet the standards set for this version. Hence, it had to rely on Anthropic's Claude artificial intelligence models.

Amazon's revamped version of the Alexa is, in all likelihood, coming out this October. This has been confirmed by as many as 5 people acquainted with the project - who do not wish to be named.

The exact date of the release is yet to be revealed. Also, it's important to note that October, too, is just a tentative release period. If the product doesn't meet internal benchmarks, the release might be delayed even further.

The project was first announced in September 2023 at the company's Devices and Services event, during which it also demoed some of its features. The launch was originally slated for September 2024, but owing to some unknown reasons, it was delayed by a month.

Related: Amazon unveiled new Alexa voice assistant updates in September 2023

Another interesting bit of information is that Alexa won't be powered by Amazon's own AI infrastructure. Instead, it's relying on Anthropic's Claude artificial intelligence models.

This is because Amazon's own AI infrastructure was unable to meet the company's expectations. It took too long to respond and even then the answers were not satisfactory.

Anthropic's AI models, on the other hand, were much more efficient, helping the company create the remarkable virtual assistant that it was aiming at.

Speaking about the same, a spokeswoman for the company said that Amazon uses different technologies for Alexa. Plus, when it comes to machine learning, its internal tools are always the first choice.

She further added that they have used and will continue to use a variety of different models - including (Amazon AI model) Titan and future Amazon models, as well as those from partners - to build the best experience for customers."

About the Revamped Version

The revamped version of Alexa will probably cost $5-10 a month, whereas the Classic" version will continue to work for free.

The difference between the Classic and the revamped version is pretty basic: the classic version simply fetches answers from the Internet and repeats them to you, whereas the revamped version can create content and give you a personalized response.

Along with content creation, AI-powered Alexa will also be able to hold more natural, human-like conversations with the user. It will use a human-like voice and allow the user to pose follow-up questions as well. From seeking tips to collecting news stories or writing emails, it can do everything.

Plus, it can remember your preference and automate certain daily tasks, such as setting the alarm or recording a television show for you.

Why the Sudden Rush to Revamp Alexa?

Alexa's revamp was a long time coming. After OpenAI triggered the AI boom with its iconic ChatGPT chatbot, many other tech giants followed its suit - Microsoft came up with Copilot and Google launched Gemini. It was only Amazon that made no significant progress in this sector...until now.

Also, the company has been working on turning Alexa into a shopping assistant to generate more revenue. So far, though, it has failed to do so.

However, with a revamped AI Alexa that's much more efficient and better at holding conversations, it's easily Amazon's best shot in recent times at turning this division profitable.

If everything goes as planned, the new Alexa version will also increase Amazon's annual revenue. According to Bank of America analyst Justin Post, Alexa has roughly 100 million active users and about 10% of those are likely to opt for the paid version. So, even if they go for the cheapest monthly plan, it would amount to an additional $600 million in annual sales for Amazon.

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