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Alexa+ Shows Promise, But Still Stumbles in Real-World Smart Home Tests
August 6, 2025
After losing their home in a March 2024 fire, one family saw an opportunity to rebuild their smart home from scratch — and decided to test whether Alexa+, Amazon’s new AI-powered assistant, was up to the task.
Launched in early 2025, Alexa+ uses generative AI from Amazon and Anthropic to offer more than just timers and voice commands. It promises to manage schedules, summarize emails, remember personal info, and even take actions like booking rides or ordering groceries.
Early testing on a new Echo Spot showed improved setup and useful integrations, like linking Google accounts and third-party services. However, the Alexa app remains clunky, with confusing menus and broken features (like a non-functional Audible integration).
In practice, Alexa+ handled some tasks well — like summarizing emails or checking a Google Calendar — but often misheard commands, cut off users mid-sentence, or failed to recall saved information. When asked to track prices on Amazon, Alexa set up alerts but struggled to report current pricing or item availability.
While Alexa+ hints at a smarter, more proactive assistant, these first real-world tests reveal an experience that’s still inconsistent and incomplete. More advanced features, including smart home control and agentic AI tasks, are yet to be tested. For now, Alexa+ shows potential — but it’s not quite ready to lead the smart home alone.
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