Amazon to Unveil Generative AI-Powered Alexa at February 26 Event

The revamped Alexa aims to enhance conversational abilities and introduce new features, with potential subscription pricing under consideration.

Amazon has scheduled a February 26 event in New York City to showcase its next-generation Alexa, featuring generative AI capabilities.
The upgraded Alexa is designed to handle multi-turn conversations, act autonomously as an 'agent,' and remember user preferences for personalized assistance.
While initially free for a limited number of users, Amazon is reportedly considering a $5 to $10 monthly subscription for the new Alexa, with the current 'Classic Alexa' remaining available at no cost but without new updates.
A critical 'Go/No-go' meeting on February 14 will determine whether the updated Alexa is ready for launch, following delays due to technical challenges such as response accuracy and speed.
Amazon's push to integrate generative AI into Alexa is seen as a response to competitive pressures from platforms like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Anthropic's Claude.