Amazon Alexa+ Faces Mixed Reactions Over Tech Issues and ChatGPT Competition

Technology

Amazon has launched Alexa+, a new voice assistant using generative AI. The upgrade aims to revive interest in the Echo platform and position the company against rivals like ChatGPT. It offers more natural conversation, personalized responses and the ability to carry out multi-step tasks. Users can ask it to plan a date, order groceries or play music across devices.

While early adopters appreciate the improved voice quality, many report glitches that limit daily use. There is also confusion over pricing. Prime members can access the beta version for free, but non‑members will pay $20 per month when the service fully launches.

First Impressions: Better Conversation but Persistent Problems

Early testers noticed clear gains in how Alexa+ understands and responds. People praised its natural speech, better tone and ability to pick up on moods. When a user asks for a song, it no longer misunderstands the request as often. However, it tends to favor Amazon Music over Spotify even when asked to play a track. This pushes users toward Amazon’s ecosystem and frustrates those with Spotify subscriptions. Some testers also criticized the default voice as “obnoxious” and tweaked settings to make it less intrusive.

Access and Pricing Concerns

  • Rollout began with 100,000 testers.
  • Gradual expansion is ongoing.
  • Prime members can use Alexa+ for free.
  • Non-Prime users will eventually pay $20/month.
  • Critics say the $20 fee is high for an incomplete service.
  • Features like Grubhub delivery and bedtime stories were missing at launch.
  • Andy Jassy admitted to missing features in May 2025.
  • Multi-step task accuracy is only 30–60%.
  • Amazon has promised future improvements.

Limited Integration with Third‑Party Services

Alexa+ can order an Uber, book tables via OpenTable and manage tasks with third‑party app. Yet it depends on only a handful of partners. When a reviewer asked it to book a dinner through OpenTable, the assistant offered just three restaurants and booked the wrong date. When they tried hiring an electrician via Thumbtack, the system collected details but never confirmed the booking. These examples show that integration is shallow; it acts more like a concierge than a true assistant. Users must still check emails and follow up manually, which defeats the convenience promised by voice automation.

Technical Issues Amazon & Cloud Dependence

  • Testers report frequent glitches.
  • Music requests often default to Amazon Music.
  • Some features are missing entirely.
  • The assistant sometimes contradicts itself during conversations.
  • Relies heavily on cloud processing instead of local processing.
  • Cloud reliance can cause delays and raises privacy concerns.
  • Amazon shifted processing to the cloud to support large language models.
  • This shift reduces the need for powerful hardware at home.
  • Cloud processing may make the service slower and more costly to operate.

Competition with ChatGPT and Other Voice Assistants

The release comes amid rapid advances in AI voice assistants. OpenAI’s ChatGPT recently added a voice mode with natural intonation and emotional inflection, along with real‑time translation. Users can also access ChatGPT via Siri shortcuts on iOS, turning the model into a direct competitor for Alexa. As ChatGPT and other rivals adopt more lifelike voices and integrate widely with third‑party services, Amazon will need to upgrade its assistant quickly to stay relevant.

Feature Highlights and Shortcomings

Below is a summary of what Alexa+ offers and where it falls short.

Amazon

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Improved natural language understanding and ability to pick up on moods.
  • Multi‑step commands can handle complex tasks like ordering a ride and booking a table.
  • Free access for Prime members encourages trial and adoption.

Cons:

  • Limited partner integrations result in shallow functionality.
  • Bugs, contradictory responses and defaulting to Amazon Music frustrate users.
  • Cloud reliance may slow response times and raises privacy questions.
  • Non‑Prime subscription cost feels high for an incomplete service.

Final Thoughts

Alexa+ represents Amazon’s push to stay relevant in the fast‑moving AI race. The company has improved conversation quality and added useful tasks, but unresolved glitches and thin integration prevent it from being indispensable. The steep monthly fee for non‑Prime members is hard to justify when competitor voice assistants offer similar or better experiences.

Description:

This content is for informational purposes only and not financial advice. Always conduct your research.