You might have to wait a little longer for Alexa’s AI upgrade

Amazon is gearing up to reveal its AI enhancements for Alexa at an event on February 26, but according to the Washington Post, the actual update may not roll out until at least a month later. An anonymous Amazon employee informed the Washington Post that the new version of Alexa is expected to launch on March 31.

The Washington Post also verified that Amazon had initially planned to launch the updated version of its smart assistant this month, but postponed the release due to issues with providing inaccurate responses to test questions.

This delay has caused concerns among investors, as the substantial investment required for AI technology poses a risk. However, Amazon is banking on the improved version of Alexa to drive sales of Echo devices and other smart gadgets that utilize the assistant. The plan is to offer most Alexa functions for free use, with the advanced features accessible only to subscribers.

The advanced version of Alexa is expected to have the capability to develop its own personality and remember past conversations. It could also handle complex tasks like ordering takeout or booking a taxi, catering to individuals who dislike making phone calls. While these challenges are not unexpected, other companies have also faced issues with AI providing inaccurate responses, such as Apple’s Notification Summaries.

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An upgraded and more robust version of Alexa would be beneficial in the smart home sector, but these delays indicate that there is still progress to be made before the technology can be widely adopted.