During a special event in New York, Amazon unveiled the Alexa+ (plus) assistant that will provide users with a more advanced and personalized experience.

Continuing to enhance the virtual assistant and speaker system Alexa, which was launched in 2014, Amazon showcased the more sophisticated version Alexa+ equipped with artificial intelligence technologies at a launch event in New York with press members and tech enthusiasts in attendance. Chief of Amazon Devices and Services, Panos Panay, highlighted that Alexa+ can provide answers to questions like “How many books did I read this year” by utilizing information from an Amazon customer’s account. Panay emphasized that the new assistant will offer a much more personalized experience, stating, “The new Alexa knows almost everything about your life. From your schedule, smart home, devices you use, contacts you communicate with, to your preferred entertainment genres…”

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES?
The new assistant gathers a wide range of information from the books you read to the events you attend to provide personalized services. For example, Alexa+ can inform you about concerts that may interest you using the data it obtains from your Amazon account, suggest restaurant reservations, and generate suitable responses based on the user’s mood. Additionally, Alexa+ can obtain information from camera images through its visual perception capability and utilize this information when answering questions, implying that Alexa will interact with users in a smarter manner. Amazon representative Panay exemplifies this feature by stating, “It understands I am a bit nervous and tries to calm me down.”

”WILL OFFER HUMAN-LIKE CONVERSATION FLOW”
The new Alexa will offer a more natural and human-like conversation flow through the use of productive artificial intelligence technologies. It can also produce more contextual and meaningful responses by recalling previous conversations. Furthermore, Amazon’s smart assistant is now compatible with a larger number of advanced devices. The event highlighted that Alexa+ can manage smart home devices and handle complex routines.

Alexa+ will also feature advanced security and privacy measures. The company stated that the new version will securely store user data, allowing users to review and delete their data.

”YOUR VIRTUAL SECURITY GUARD” Apart from analyzing images from compatible security cameras, Alexa+ is claimed to be able to explain what is happening in a specific scene. Panay’s statement, “It’s your virtual security guard,” reflects his confidence in their smart assistant in this field.