Alexa+: Because AI Subscription Fatigue Wasn’t Bad Enough

Amazon just unveiled Alexa+, a bold new vision for voice assistants—or, more accurately, a desperate attempt to charge you a monthly fee for something that was free yesterday.

In a marathon of buzzwords, executives gushed over generative AI, agentic capabilities (whatever that means), and Alexa’s newfound ability to book dinner reservations and text your friends, as if that's not something you could already do in five seconds.

The big reveal? Alexa+ will cost $19.99 a month. But don’t worry, Prime members—you get it for free! The AI-powered assistant promises to remove complexity from your life, which is an interesting claim for a product that now requires a decision about whether it’s worth paying for.

Alexa+ boasts cutting-edge AI that can finally—brace yourself—remember details you tell it. That’s right, Amazon just reinvented the ability to recall information, and you can now upload important documents so Alexa+ can read them to you. Groundbreaking stuff, truly.

And don’t forget the new Echo Show 21, because what’s better than a giant screen that sits on your counter, listening and watching? Amazon swears it’s all about convenience, and definitely not data collection. The company also demoed Alexa+ working with other AI agents to coordinate tasks, like booking an Uber for your friend. Because what the world needed most was another layer of automation between you and a simple action.

But wait, there’s more! Alexa+ will help you manage your smart home, summarize your emails, and create grocery lists. It’s almost as if Amazon has repackaged existing features, slapped “generative AI” on the label, and called it innovation.

The bottom line? If you love talking to Alexa, congratulations—you now have the privilege of paying for the experience. If not, well, you can always just use your phone like a normal person.