Alexa Plus AI assistant struggles with real-world tasks in early test
Amazon's new Alexa Plus AI assistant shows promise but fails to deliver seamless task automation in real-world testing scenarios.
Amazon's newly upgraded Alexa Plus voice assistant demonstrates improved conversational abilities but struggles with practical task automation, according to a week-long test by The Verge.
Key Findings:
- Natural Language Processing Improved: Alexa no longer requires specific wake words or precise phrasing
- Limited Service Integration: Currently only works with Ticketmaster, OpenTable, Uber, and Thumbtack
- Mixed Success Rates:
- Ticket Booking: Successfully found and nearly purchased concert tickets
- Dinner Reservations: Booked wrong date before correction
- Home Services: Failed to complete electrician booking autonomously
Ticketmaster Experience
The most successful test involved booking Chris Isaak concert tickets through Ticketmaster. Alexa:
- Generated a list of local events
- Selected balcony seats at $98.15 each
- Pre-populated checkout with payment details
Security Concern: No PIN protection for purchases made through connected devices
Restaurant Booking Issues
When reserving a French restaurant in Charleston:
- Initially booked wrong date (Thursday instead of Friday)
- Required manual correction
- Took longer than using dedicated apps like OpenTable or Resy
Home Services Failure
Attempt to book an electrician via Thumbtack:
- Generated list of "highly rated" professionals
- Required extensive voice Q&A about the job
- Ultimately required manual follow-up from the service provider
Future Potential
Amazon promises upcoming integrations with:
- Grocery delivery services
- Grubhub for food delivery
- Vagaro for spa bookings
"While the tech is impressive, the lack of depth and the failures I experienced mean I don't plan to rely on Alexa to do these tasks for me just yet," concluded the tester.
Photography by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge
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About the Author
Dr. Lisa Kim
AI Ethics Researcher
Leading expert in AI ethics and responsible AI development with 13 years of research experience. Former member of Microsoft AI Ethics Committee, now provides consulting for multiple international AI governance organizations. Regularly contributes AI ethics articles to top-tier journals like Nature and Science.