Amazon has been rolling out its new voice assistant, Alexa+, to all Prime members with supported devices, even if they didn't request it. The upgrade comes with a range of improvements, including artificial intelligence-powered responses and a more conversational tone.
Alexa+ is designed to be more like a chatbot than a digital butler, allowing users to have a back-and-forth conversation with the assistant. It also includes features like text chats on display devices, similar to popular apps like ChatGPT.
However, some users are not happy with the new voice and experience. The default feminine voice, described as "sassy" or "teenage girl," has been met with criticism, while the original Alexa voice is still available for those who prefer it.
To switch back to the original Alexa voice, users can simply tell their device, "Alexa, exit Alexa Plus." This will revert the experience to something similar to what it was before. The change also affects text chats on display devices and how ads are displayed.
Amazon has notified users via email, in the Alexa app, and on Echo and Echo Show devices about the upgrade. It says that the new voice assistant is "significantly more capable" than the original Alexa, but some users may not notice the difference.
The rollout of Alexa+ marks a significant push by Amazon to expand its voice assistant's capabilities and adoption. However, it also raises questions about user choice and the willingness of major tech companies to impose changes on their customers without clear opt-out options.
As the full version of Alexa+ is expected to launch in the coming months, users will have the option to continue with the new experience or switch back to the original voice. For now, those who prefer it can take advantage of Amazon's warning that some features may need to be adjusted in the Alexa app if they revert to the older experience.
In summary, Amazon has rolled out its new voice assistant, Alexa+, to all Prime members with supported devices, despite some users expressing dissatisfaction with the change. While the upgrade offers significant improvements, it also raises concerns about user choice and the impact of tech companies on their customers' experiences.
Alexa+ is designed to be more like a chatbot than a digital butler, allowing users to have a back-and-forth conversation with the assistant. It also includes features like text chats on display devices, similar to popular apps like ChatGPT.
However, some users are not happy with the new voice and experience. The default feminine voice, described as "sassy" or "teenage girl," has been met with criticism, while the original Alexa voice is still available for those who prefer it.
To switch back to the original Alexa voice, users can simply tell their device, "Alexa, exit Alexa Plus." This will revert the experience to something similar to what it was before. The change also affects text chats on display devices and how ads are displayed.
Amazon has notified users via email, in the Alexa app, and on Echo and Echo Show devices about the upgrade. It says that the new voice assistant is "significantly more capable" than the original Alexa, but some users may not notice the difference.
The rollout of Alexa+ marks a significant push by Amazon to expand its voice assistant's capabilities and adoption. However, it also raises questions about user choice and the willingness of major tech companies to impose changes on their customers without clear opt-out options.
As the full version of Alexa+ is expected to launch in the coming months, users will have the option to continue with the new experience or switch back to the original voice. For now, those who prefer it can take advantage of Amazon's warning that some features may need to be adjusted in the Alexa app if they revert to the older experience.
In summary, Amazon has rolled out its new voice assistant, Alexa+, to all Prime members with supported devices, despite some users expressing dissatisfaction with the change. While the upgrade offers significant improvements, it also raises concerns about user choice and the impact of tech companies on their customers' experiences.
. I mean, who are they to decide what we want for our voice assistants? It's like they're imposing their own vision on us without giving us a choice. And now we have to deal with a "sassy" female voice that some people just don't find appealing 
. What if Amazon suddenly decides to switch the default tone to male or changes the accent entirely? Would we have a say in it? I think not 
. This is exactly what's wrong with our society, where big corporations are making decisions on our behalf without consulting us directly. It's all about profit and control 
.
. I get that Amazon wants to make it more conversational, but can't they offer a male option or at least let us choose our own? And what's up with not giving users an opt-out option? It feels like they're pushing us to adapt to their new vision without really considering our individual preferences 
. Still, I guess it's an improvement over the old Alexa, and who knows, maybe I'll get used to it eventually 
. The thing is, though, shouldn't we have more control over our own digital experiences? It's a bit disconcerting that they're just swooping in and making changes without really asking us what we want 
.
. And yeah, the sassy voice might be a bit much for some people, but I'm kinda loving it 
So maybe this Alexa+ update isn't so bad after all... 
I mean, we already have apps like ChatGPT that do text chats, so it's not like Alexa+ is bringing anything revolutionary to the table. And can't they just leave the old voice assistant as an option or something? It feels like they're just trying to collect all our data and sell us more stuff... 
. I mean, who doesn't love their original Alexa voice? It's like, just because Amazon wants to upgrade something, we have to adapt too? 
.
. I mean, don't get me wrong, AI-powered responses are cool and all #AlexaPlus, but what about those of us who just want the original voice? 
It's like they're trying to upgrade us without our consent 
. I'm glad they included an option to switch back though, that's a plus 
. And can we talk about the new voice? "Sassy" Alexa is more like "annoying" in my book 
. Still, I guess if they can make it work, that's fine by me. But what really gets me is the lack of opt-out options. Like, if you don't want this new Alexa thing, you're stuck with it unless you manually switch back. That just feels like a lot of unnecessary hassle 
. I'll be interested to see how this all plays out in the coming months.
and annoying 
... i hope they add an option to opt out in the future tho. and btw, chatgpts are so lit 