Alexa Plus - Anyone Using It ?

molerat

My daughter has gone over to Alexa Plus and in my opinion it is awful. Unlike the old Alexa I have to talk to it slowly and concisely for it to understand then it takes ages for it to respond. And the new voice sounds condescending when it does deign to answer.

tetrarch

It can do things such as multiple commands and seems to be able to decipher more complex phrases, but it is definitively slower in responding and actioning routines

Jury still out for me

Regards

Tet

Glad

I hated Alexa+ too! I gave it a try but found it slower and much more irritating than the old Alexa, so I reverted back.

You can opt out and go back to the original Alexa. The easiest way is to say "Alexa, exit Alexa+". You can also apparently do it through the Alexa+ settings.

I read that Follow-Up Mode can stay switched on after you leave Alexa+. If you don't want Alexa continuing to listen for another question after she's answered, just say "Alexa, turn off Follow-Up Mode", I quite like that feature though, mainly for adding things to my shopping list.

I much prefer the old version and haven't regretted changing back.

Rosa_Damascena

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82129413#Comment_82129413

Is that the sum additional benefit? Surely there has to be a better USP to differentiate it from the original?

tetrarch

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82136936#Comment_82136936

Maybe it's just me, but that is the sum total of the change to me.

I will add that Alexa's personality has evolved as well. I know that it is a simple algorithm but she seems to be more acerbic and sometimes actually funny

I asked her if it was bedtime and she gave a "it is a bit early" almost a jibe, and made referenced my nightime "shut everything down" routine would be available when I needed it - this is her learning our behaviour

I wouldn't pay for it, but I think that on balance it is a touch better

Regards

Tet

SiliconChip

My devices have been asking me if I want to upgrade to Alexa+ for the last couple of weeks. I've always said no, then yesterday an email arrived that stated in the small print that if you're not a Prime member (which I'm not at the moment) it'll cost £19.99 a month after the first free month. It's a bit sneaky not to mention that earlier, and while it'll clearly be cheaper to take out Prime it doesn't seem like a good value upgrade at all, especially given the mixed views on how useful it is.

Vitor

I bought Echo Spot (newest gen) in the sale which enabled Alexa+ on my account (I also have Prime). Several of the existing Echo devices also then became enabled for Alexa+ (Echo Pop, Echo Studio) but not Echo Plus. Obviously a con to get you to upgrade as all the processing is done on the servers.

Alexa+ is a lot better than Alexa (it could hardly be worse!), I'd say it's ChatGPT lite in terms of capability.

molerat

Just received an e-mail that Alexa Plus is being made a forced upgrade unless you opt out (for now !) by 20th Nov.

Grumpy_chap

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82194493#Comment_82194493

I only use Alexa to control plugs and blinds to routines.

Will that be affected?

I have not received any communication from Amazon about Alexa Plus.

I don't have Prime.

I don't want to pay for controlling the plugs.

molerat

Only "early access" needed to be paid for by non prime users so the full roll out will be free. I have been receiving "free early access" e-mails for ages since purchasing new items.

Still not impressed with it, it may have more AI functions but I still think the user interface has gone down a notch.

alanwsg

I found the Alexa+ voice to be much more difficult to understand - she speaks too fast and uses odd pronunciations.

Also, I found some things took too long. E.g. "Alexa, lights on" ….."On it" …… <lights come on>

Gone back to "Normal" for now, which was a bit annoying as you have to go to each device and switch off "Follow-on" mode.