Alexa+ Falls Short: Users Frustrated with New AI Features

After spending over a month with Alexa+ on a 15-inch screen, the experience has been disappointing, with the device failing to meet basic reliability expectations for a smart home assistant. Despite being in early access, Alexa+ behaves unpredictably, often unable to complete tasks effectively. The revamped voice assistant, introduced in 2025, integrates generative AI to enhance user interaction, but it has left much to be desired.

Alexa+ was designed to improve understanding of user requests, offering more personalized and conversational interactions. However, the reality feels more like dealing with a stubborn entity that requires precise phrasing to function correctly. The AI's inconsistency is evident in everyday tasks, such as playing music, where it frequently misinterprets requests or defaults to unrelated content on YouTube.

Amazon promotes Alexa+ as a tool for automating tasks like ordering groceries or booking rides, but its practical utility falls short. The assistant struggles with simple entertainment requests, often requiring users to resort to manual controls. For instance, asking Alexa+ to play specific songs or videos often results in incorrect searches or failure to execute the command altogether.

Attempts to use Alexa+ for video streaming services like HBO Max have been equally frustrating. Despite showing thumbnails for popular shows, the assistant fails to play episodes, often getting stuck on the "Who’s Watching" page without progressing further. Even when Alexa+ claims to be playing content, it sometimes reverts to unrelated audio, such as nature sounds.

While other companies like Google, Anthropic, and OpenAI have made strides in improving their automation tools, Alexa+ lags behind, struggling with app and website navigation. The current state of Alexa+ is not something users would pay for, and it leaves them wishing for alternative voice assistants that could be integrated into Amazon devices.

Overall, the experience with Alexa+ has been underwhelming, leading to a decision to remove the device from the kitchen wall. The hope is that future updates will address these issues, but for now, Alexa+ remains a source of frustration rather than convenience.