Amazon is bringing the brand new AI-powered Alexa Plus to a variety of its present Echo units — however the improve will skip lots of the earliest fashions. Nearly all of the corporate’s first-generation Echos gained’t get help, in line with the Alexa Plus FAQ web page, although Amazon says they’ll proceed to work with the usual Alexa.
Alexa Plus gained’t help “sure older technology Echo units,” such because the first-generation Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Plus, Echo Faucet, Echo Spot, and Echo Present; the second-generation Echo Present gained’t help it, both. Amazon spokesperson Kristy Schmidt confirmed that’s the full checklist of units. In that case, that also leaves many early Echo units that may work with Alexa Plus.
Which means I’ll have the ability to ask Alexa to ebook a restaurant reservation by means of my Echo Flex, the quirky modular Echo speaker that plugs straight right into a wall outlet. And folks can nonetheless get an AI-generated music piped by means of audio system they’ve related their microphone-only Echo Inputs to. And if in case you have an historic first- or- second-gen Echo Present 15 or newer Echo Hub, these will apparently get entry to the AI-enhanced Alexa, too. Schmidt confirmed that every of these might be suitable.
Maybe it’s a bummer that a number of the older Echo units gained’t use AI to ebook reservations, observe ticket costs, or generate faux songs. However not less than they’ll nonetheless have the ability to do the outdated Alexa stuff, like flip in your lights or inform you the climate. And given rumors concerning the battle Amazon has had getting Alexa Plus to work proper, that is likely to be a very good factor, not less than for some time.
