The new version of Alexa would be launched in mid-2024, marking a significant shift for Amazon as the company seeks to drive increased profits from its products and services. This paid version of the virtual assistant, known as ‘Alexa Plus’, would feature an advanced and customizable artificial intelligence technology called ‘Remarkable Alexa’, which has already been tested with 15,000 customers.
Despite the promising potential of ‘Remarkable Alexa’, it is important to note that the new version of the personal assistant is still facing some challenges. According to a report from Business Insider, the advanced version of Alexa has been found to sometimes provide inaccurate information and struggle to handle simultaneous customer requests, such as turning on lights and playing music at the same time.
It is crucial for Amazon that its virtual assistant generates revenue in order to continue its development, as company executives have made it clear that the future of Alexa could be at risk if it fails to produce profits. As a result, the paid version of Alexa is scheduled to launch on June 30, 2024, with more details about its pricing and availability expected to be revealed in the coming months.
In addition to the developments with Alexa, Amazon has also been implementing the use of artificial intelligence to create summaries of customer reviews on its online commerce platform. However, this new generative AI technology has generated skepticism among sellers, with concerns about the potential dehumanization of content and unclear product descriptions.
Reported cases of AI-generated summaries mischaracterizing products and highlighting marginal negative opinions have raised concerns among sellers, who rely on positive feedback to drive sales. It is clear that while AI technology has the potential to transform various aspects of business, there are still challenges to be addressed in order to ensure its accuracy and reliability.