Amazon has officially launched its enhanced AI-powered assistant, Alexa+, to all users in the United States. This expansion, which occurred on February 4, 2026, marks a significant step in making advanced AI technology more accessible. Alexa+ had been in an early access phase since mid-2025.
Alexa+ aims to provide more personalized responses and handle more complex tasks than the original Alexa. It can answer questions about various topics and perform agentic tasks such as finding restaurants, making reservations, and booking rides. On supported devices, Alexa+ saves users time by eliminating the need to open browsers or type queries.
The upgrade is powered by a new architecture built on large language models from Anthropic and Amazon's own Nova program. Amazon has invested approximately $8 billion in Anthropic. Daniel Rausch, VP of Alexa and Echo, mentioned that most Alexa traffic uses Amazon's Nova models. Amazon utilizes over 70 different models and has partnerships with Anthropic and other model providers through its Bedrock AI platform. Amazon is also exploring deeper access to OpenAI's models.
Prime members receive Alexa+ for free, while non-Prime members can subscribe for $19.99 per month. Non-paying customers can still experience Alexa+'s AI capabilities through text-based interactions on Alexa.com. Prime members can upgrade by saying, "Alexa, upgrade to Alexa+" or logging into their Amazon account via Alexa.com.
Alexa+ manages planning, search, smart-home coordination, and task execution with greater contextual awareness. It is accessible across Echo devices, mobile apps, and the web, expanding its reach beyond traditional smart speakers.
Key features and improvements include chatbot-like capabilities for more natural conversations, agentic behavior for independent task completion, personalized reminders, and enhanced memory to incorporate past interactions. Alexa+ can also create playlists, provide news briefings, offer improved recommendations, and integrate wellness features.
The launch includes over 50 AI-powered features, such as Uber booking and OpenTable reservations. Eight new voice options are available, replacing the mechanical tone with natural, conversational interactions. Alexa+ is compatible with 600 million existing Amazon devices, including Echo speakers and Fire TV.
New integrations extend Alexa+ to third-party devices like Samsung smart TVs, Bosch coffee machines, and BMW vehicles. In vehicles, Alexa Custom Assistant enables natural dialogue for vehicle functions, navigation, and connected services. The assistant has also expanded to web browsers via Alexa.com, offering a chatbot-like interface.
Alexa+ can send announcements to specific devices, find photos using contextual details, extract information from various sources to add to calendars, and recommend podcast episodes. It also allows users to move music seamlessly between rooms. New Echo devices and Fire TVs include Omnisense sensors that combine Wi-Fi radar and ultrasound to detect users and provide contextual updates. The Alexa+ Store offers access to apps like DoorDash, TaskRabbit, Uber, and Fandango.
