Amazon makes Alexa+ free on compatible Fire TV devices in the US

In short: Amazon says it will make its Alexa+ assistant free on compatible Fire TV devices in the U.S., even for people without Prime.

What happened

Amazon announced that Alexa+, its newer version of Alexa with more AI features, is rolling out to all compatible Fire TV devices in the U.S. at no extra cost. Users do not need to download a new app or start a subscription. Amazon says the upgrade will happen automatically.

Alexa+ was previously priced at $19.99 per month for people who did not subscribe to Amazon Prime. It first appeared on newer Fire TV devices that Amazon introduced last year.

Amazon says compatible devices include current-generation Fire TV Sticks, the Fire TV Cube, Amazon Ember smart TVs, and some other smart TVs with Alexa+ built in, including models from Hisense and Panasonic.

With Alexa+, Amazon says people can search for shows in a more conversational way. For example, instead of naming a specific title, you can ask for something like “a top-rated thriller” or “a historical drama with a strong female lead.” Amazon also says Alexa+ can help control smart home devices, including showing Ring camera feeds on the TV.

Why it matters

This change makes AI features more common in the living room, and it is not always something people opt into. Amazon is also not alone. Google has added its Gemini assistant to Google TV, and Roku has upgraded its voice assistant with AI features too. For everyday viewers, this could mean easier searching and more voice control, but it also means your TV experience may change after an automatic update, like getting a new remote menu without asking for it.

Source: TechCrunch AI