Amazon recently hosted an event in New York City to unveil the highly anticipated overhaul of its Alexa chatbot. The revamped assistant boasts an array of new capabilities, courtesy of advanced AI technology, and can be accessed through multiple channels. In addition to voice activation via Echo devices, the company has also launched a dedicated web portal for Alexa+.

This web portal enables Amazon customers to interact with Alexa+ without needing to open the app or use a smart speaker or smart display. This feature may be particularly useful for making adjustments while at work or for those who prefer typing out lengthy queries using a traditional keyboard. Furthermore, consumers can continue to use the app, and Amazon has promised a redesign in the near future to incorporate the new features offered by Alexa+.

For those unfamiliar, Alexa+ is an enhanced version of the long-standing chatbot, leveraging conversational AI and integration with Amazon services to provide users with a range of new capabilities. It possesses contextual awareness, allowing it to recall earlier parts of a conversation and complete relatively complex tasks. Demonstrations of the assistant’s capabilities included finding recipes, booking dinner reservations, searching for specific parts of a movie, and more.

The new features appear impressive, but come with a cost. Alexa+ will begin rolling out to select Echo Show devices over the next few weeks, with a price tag of $20 per month. However, it will be free for Prime subscribers, who currently pay $15 per month in the US. Hopefully, the inclusion of Alexa+ will not lead to a price increase for Prime members.