Amazon launched its AI assistant service Alexa+ for web browsers, moving into full-fledged competition with OpenAI's ChatGPT.
Amazon said on the 5th (local time) that it launched Alexa.com, which provides its AI assistant service across mobile and the online web, in an announcement on its blog. Citing that conversation volume on the existing Alexa+ service doubled nine months after launch, it emphasized the need to expand to the web service, saying customers want Alexa everywhere.
Alexa+ is an AI assistant service Amazon released in Feb. last year that can handle a variety of tasks through natural conversations with users, including ordering groceries, suggesting recipes, booking dining spots, planning travel itineraries, and controlling smart home devices. In particular, in Oct. last year, Amazon released the Echo speaker with Alexa+ features, the Kindle e-reader, the Ring smart home security camera, and Fire TV.
Until now, the Alexa+ service was mainly provided through these Amazon devices. However, Amazon has now expanded access to Alexa+ on mobile and the web through a newly designed Alexa mobile app.
However, the Alexa.com website is available only to existing Alexa+ subscribers, and new users must join a waitlist or purchase an Amazon device.
U.S. media outlets said the expansion of Alexa to the web is an attempt to shift its AI business into a form similar to AI chatbots developed by OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic. Following the success of OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini and other Generative AI, Amazon is effectively compelled to improve its AI services to keep up with this change.