Life just got significantly simpler for tech-loving Canadians. On November 20, Amazon launched Alexa+ across the country, making Canada the first international market outside the U.S. to receive the company’s next-generation, Generative AI-powered digital assistant. Upgrading the Alexa we all know and love to a smarter, more sophisticated AI assistant built to drastically simplify daily tasks, it can do everything from make dinner reservations to plan home meals and remind your spouse to take out the garbage. It’s a game-changing way to say goodbye to time-consuming busy work when it comes to running the household.
Beyond the command
Driven by Amazon’s custom-built AI models, Alexa+ transforms the interaction with your Echo device from a robotic exchange into a fluid dialogue, similar to chatting with an advanced AI chatbot. It impressively understands context, nuance and intent to the point that you may never truly feel like you are home alone.
You need to witness Alexa+ in action to truly appreciate its offerings. Immediately, this upgraded Alexa sounds more conversational and less rigid and robotic than its predecessor. She doesn’t repeat your request back to you before tackling it; time is too precious these days. Alexa+ understands casual speech, complex questions, and real-world context, making interactions feel effortless – almost scarily, effortless. Instead of commanding it to turn on the lights, you can simply say, “it’s dark,” and it will adjust your connected home lighting.
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Like a new partner, Alexa+ learns your routines and preferences – from favourite playlists to morning routines and dietary needs – and offers tailored, helpful suggestions. Think: an AI assistant who will remember family members’ allergies and suggest recipes and meal plans; create vacation itineraries on the spot; and dissect Ring camera activity in seconds (as in, “Yes, there were raccoons on the porch last night,” or “yes, he did take out the garbage.”).
Simplified schedules
If home admin isn’t your strong suit, Alexa+ allows for smarter real world actions to keep you organized. In literal seconds, Alexa+ can manage your home, coordinate your day, book tasks, and help plan anything from dinner to your weekday schedule.
By training Alexa+ with permissions to access your emails or uploaded documents, it can intelligently dissect incoming information and adjust schedules. Users can share things like a child’s entire hockey or dance calendar with Alexa+, and it uses this information to proactively plot schedules, make suggestions, or answer specific questions about upcoming events. For example, she’ll let you know if parking is available and if there’s a spot close by for ice cream after. It will also remind you that one of the hockey practices falls on a holiday Monday (and maybe even suggest taking a weekend getaway).
A Canadian touch
The new Alexa+ has been specifically localized for Canada and its users, according to Amazon. It’s designed to understand Canadian colloquialisms, follow local sports teams (from the Blue Jays to the Roughriders), and navigate distinctly Canadian topics. Alexa+ is no stranger to Timbits, poutine, and maple syrup. She did, however, mix up the happenings of the Blue Jays’ last game when asked. Perhaps going more Canadian comes with a learning curve(?).
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While Alexa+ works on existing devices, the new Amazon Echo devices are purpose-built for this upgrade. It works across your Echo devices; meaning, you can start a conversation in one room and continue it in another – Alexa keeps up. But, it’s also discreet. Alexa+ is built with a privacy-first design, with security at its core. This means clear controls and an easy-to-navigate Alexa Privacy dashboard.
Alexa+ is available now at no cost during the Early Access phase. After Early Access, it will remain free for all Prime members(!) as the newest Prime benefit, or cost $27.99 CAD/month for non-Prime members.
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