Amazon Expands Alexa Plus Access to Hundreds of Thousands

Amazon is gradually expanding early access to Alexa Plus, its generative AI-powered voice assistant, which is available free for Prime members or for $19.99 per month otherwise. The company claims that hundreds of thousands of users, primarily owners of Echo Show devices, have already tried Alexa Plus, with activation on one device automatically upgrading other linked devices. However, key features initially promised, such as contextual takeout ordering and family member recognition, remain under development and are not yet widely available. Despite Amazon's assertions of a growing user base, investigations by Reuters and other outlets have found little verifiable evidence of real-world usage or user testimonials, prompting skepticism about the assistant's actual availability. Amazon strongly denies these claims and continues to invite more users to participate in the early access program to gather feedback and refine the experience ahead of a broader launch. The cautious rollout strategy reflects the company's focus on ensuring performance and reliability before releasing all capabilities to the public.