Amazon is expected to announce a major AI upgrade to its voice assistant Alexa next week, which could change the way we interact with this popular smart home technology. Amazon invited the media to an event held in New York City on February 26, and Panos Panay, head of Amazon's equipment and services team, planned to speak.
Panay spent decades at Microsoft joining Amazon in 2023, where he helped shape the surface product line.
The event is expected to preview Alexa's long-standing generation of AI voice capabilities, which can significantly enhance its ability to perform more natural, contextual conversations and full multi-step tasks.
If announced, this would be the most important evolution of Alexa since its debut in 2014. Although Amazon has long been the leader in AI assistant space, the landscape has changed rapidly. Companies such as OpenAI, Google and Anthropic are launching increasingly complex AI assistants that are able to multitask and complete complex requests.
Alexa currently processes one command at a time. Last month, OpenAI introduced a new AI agent called “Agencies” that aims to handle daily tasks such as making dinner reservations, ordering groceries and filling out forms. Amazon told CNET that the event will focus on the latest innovations from the Alexa team, but provides no further details.
Globally, with more than a billion Alexa devices, generated AI upgrades can reshape how users interact with voice assistants and potentially introduce paid tiers for more advanced features. Reuters reported that Amazon is considering charging $5 to $10 a month for services while maintaining the original version of Alexa Free.
Apple is rumored to improve its smart home efforts by using Siri-powered wall-mounted displays, aiming to control home devices such as thermostats, lighting and appliances.
The device is expected to launch in March and is expected to be part of the driving force for Apple's more aggressive competition in the smart home market, where it has historically lagged behind Google and Amazon.
