Amazon makes Alexa+ AI assistant free for Fire TV users

Amazon is now offering free access to Alexa+, its AI-powered assistant, to all users in the United States with eligible Fire TV devices. Previously, this service was only free for Prime members and typically cost $20 per month for others.

Compatible hardware includes current-generation Fire TV sticks, the Fire TV Cube, Amazon Ember smart TVs, and other smart TVs from manufacturers such as Hisense and Panasonic. Unlike the standard Alexa, Alexa+ utilizes natural language processing, allowing users to engage in conversational requests and receive nuanced recommendations rather than relying on specific keyword commands.

Beyond entertainment, the assistant can manage smart home devices, such as viewing camera feeds on a television or locking smart locks. Amazon reported that users interact with Alexa+ nearly twice as often as the previous version due to its improved conversational capabilities, and the company indicated that free access may expand to more devices and regions in the future.