If Alexa’s in your home, you might’ve been one of many users this month who were suddenly moved from the original Alexa to the new AI-powered Alexa+ voice assistant. Amazon announced during CES in early January that the new assistant would roll out to all Alexa+ Early Access customers, and that rollout now includes every Prime member, even those who weren’t on the Early Access list.
At a Glance
- Alexa+ has been pushed to all Prime members, overriding the original Alexa voice.
- The new assistant remains in Early Access and is free for Prime users; non-Prime users will pay $20 a month once fully launched.
- Switching back to the original Alexa is a simple voice command: “Alexa, exit Alexa Plus”.
- Why it matters: The change forces a large portion of Amazon’s smart-home ecosystem to adopt a new conversational AI, raising questions about user experience and future upgrades.
What Is Alexa+?
Amazon’s new generation of the Alexa voice assistant is powered by artificial intelligence, promising more conversational responses and a better grasp of complex requests. It is designed to feel more like a chatbot than a traditional digital butler. On Echo Show devices, Alexa+ turns the onscreen conversation into a text chat similar to the ChatGPT app.
The assistant ships with a new default voice that many users have called a “sassy teen.” Although the voice can be changed, the default is noticeably different from the familiar Alexa tone.
Voice Options
| Voice | Gender | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Feminine 1 | Female | Upbeat, teenage-girl tone |
| Feminine 2 | Female | Relaxed, softer cadence |
| Masculine 1 | Male | Warm, inviting |
| Masculine 2 | Male | Inviting, confident |
Users can switch between these voices, but the default remains Feminine 1 for most new installs.
How Amazon Rolled It Out
Amazon notified customers through email, the Alexa app, and on Echo and Echo Show devices. One News Of Fort Worth staffer reported repeatedly declining the upgrade, only to find her Echo Dot automatically updated to the new voice one morning.
> “Alexa+ is significantly more capable than the original Alexa, so we’re working to make it available to as many customers as possible,” said an Amazon spokesperson. “We notified customers of the upcoming update, including how to return to the original version.”
The rollout is limited to Prime members with supported devices. The assistant is currently free, but Amazon plans to charge $20 a month for non-Prime users once the full version launches.
Supported Devices
- Echo (first generation)
- Echo Dot (first generation)
- Echo Show (first generation)
- Echo Spot (first generation)
- Echo Plus (first generation)
- Fire TV and Fire tablet devices (many models)
Depending on how many Amazon-powered devices you own, a Prime member could see Alexa+ on several devices at once.
Switching Back to the Original Alexa
If you prefer the older experience, you can revert with a single voice command:
> “Alexa, exit Alexa Plus”
This command works on supported Echo devices. Once executed, the assistant will stop showing the chatbot-style conversation and will revert to the original voice and interaction style. Core capabilities, such as controlling smart devices or setting timers, remain unchanged.
What You’ll Notice
- The text chat that appears on Echo Show screens disappears.
- Ads that appear while you’re actively asking questions are no longer shown; the original Alexa only displays ads in its rotating slideshow.
- Weather reports return to a full-screen format, displaying hourly and weekly data in a scrollable view.
- Voice inflections may have shifted slightly, even when you keep the old voice, because the underlying voice engine has been updated.
Amazon warns that some settings in the Alexa app may need to be adjusted when you revert, but the exact changes are not specified.
Voice Experience: Old vs. New
Even after switching back, the voice may not sound exactly like the original. Users on Reddit noted that the inflections in the old voice have changed, making it sound different from before. The new assistant’s conversational style has prompted Amazon to update the underlying voice models.
Some users dislike the new default voice, describing it as “upbeat” or “teenage girl.” In contrast, the original Alexa had a more neutral, relaxed tone.
Voice Switching Within Alexa+
While in Alexa+, you can still request a different voice. For example, a user asked for the old voice and received Feminine 2, which remains available in the new assistant. However, a Reddit user reported that this request did not work for them, while another user saw an instant change as of January 22.
Implications for Amazon’s Smart-Home Ecosystem
Amazon has no clear timeline for when a fully baked version of Alexa+ will arrive. The Early Access program began in spring last year, and it has taken nearly a year to make it available to all Prime members. Some speculate that a complete rollout may not happen until next year.
> “We’re working to make it available to as many customers as possible,” the spokesperson said. “We notified customers of the upcoming update, including how to return to the original version.”
The push to adopt Alexa+ could influence how users interact with Amazon’s devices across the home, apps, and the browser. Alexa+ is also available on Alexa.com for browsing help, positioning Amazon as a competitor to services like ChatGPT.
Key Takeaways
- Amazon has pushed the new AI-powered Alexa+ to all Prime members, overriding the original Alexa voice.
- The assistant remains free for Prime users, with a $20 monthly fee planned for non-Prime users once fully launched.
- Users can revert to the original Alexa with the voice command “Alexa, exit Alexa Plus”.
- The new voice is more conversational, but some users find it jarring and prefer the older tone.
- Amazon has not announced a release date for a fully complete version of Alexa+.
Bottom Line
The rollout of Alexa+ to all Prime members marks a significant shift in Amazon’s voice assistant strategy. While the new AI offers more conversational capabilities, it also forces many users to adapt to a different voice and interface. Those who prefer the classic Alexa experience can easily switch back, but the underlying voice engine may still feel slightly altered.
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Photograph: Derrick M. Collins
