Alexa Plus is getting an AI update to handle more complicated instructions
Amazon is updating Alexa Plus with new AI capabilities and an open-source protocol to integrate more seamlessly with third-party smart home devices and services. The update allows for more complex, multi-step user requests.
Why it matters
The adoption of open standards like the Model Context Protocol could significantly expand the utility and interoperability of consumer AI assistants.
Amazon is launching an update to its Alexa Plus assistant that will allow it to connect to smart home devices in new ways. With the update, Alexa Plus can link up with tech from Bosch, Delta, Ecovacs, iRobot, Yale Home, Whirlpool, Tapo, Eufy, and others, while automatically routing requests to the correct device.
In an example shared by Amazon, a person with a supported washing machine can say, “Alexa, my kid’s soccer jersey could use a deep clean, but the tag says cold wash only.” From there, Alexa Plus would navigate the washer’s cycle options and choose the correct setting. The new integrations are powered by Amazon’s new AI developer toolkit, which is supposed to make it easier for device makers to connect to Alexa Plus, “including those with unique capabilities that weren’t supported before.”
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