Amazon has announced the launch of Alexa+, its advanced AI-driven assistant, within the Amazon Music app for both iOS and Android devices. This feature is currently available to users enrolled in the Alexa+ Early Access program and can be activated by tapping the “a” button located in the app’s lower right corner, allowing users to engage with the built-in microphone for queries.
The integration of Alexa+ aims to revolutionize the way users discover music through a more interactive and natural conversational experience. Unlike its predecessor, which handled only basic commands, Alexa+ encourages users to pose detailed questions, such as exploring an artist’s inspirations or delving into the meanings behind specific lyrics. It can even assist in identifying songs based on partial lyrics or recalling tracks featured in popular films.
Key features of Alexa+ include the ability to generate personalized playlists based on unique requests. Users might ask for curated lists like, “Create a playlist of fast-paced 2010s hits starting with Nicki Minaj,” or engage in more quirky queries, such as, “Suggest new music that would impress my 13-year-old daughter without making me look uncool.” Examples like, “What’s the song from the opening credits of ‘The Sopranos’?” illustrate its conversational capabilities.
Originally unveiled at a hardware event in February, Alexa+ positions itself as one of the pioneering consumer-focused AI tools designed to perform various actions on behalf of users, including booking restaurant reservations and grocery ordering.
Although still in a testing phase with a rollout to over one million users, early adopters of Alexa+ have shown significant engagement: they explore three times more songs and increase their listening time by nearly 70% compared to the original assistant.
With Spotify recently integrating ChatGPT into its platform, Amazon’s release of Alexa+ represents a strategic effort to enhance its competitiveness in the music streaming arena and highlight its ongoing commitment to AI innovation. The Amazon Music app continues to evolve, featuring AI-generated playlists, enhanced search capabilities, and an “Explore” function that allows users to delve deeper into their favorite artists.
