Amazon has announced a gen AI-powered Alexa+, a revamped version of its popular virtual assistant that leverages the power of generative artificial intelligence to enhance the user experience. Alexa+ is exactly what you may have envisioned when you first heard of voice assistants like Alexa, Siri, and Google, but without the accompanying disappointment at their shortcomings.

The improved voice assistant will be able to generate responses instead of repeating what it's been programmed to say. With generative AI, Alexa+ will also hold more natural conversations with users, rather than listening to a prompt and responding with an action. It will support memory to recall preferences and conversations and will maintain context throughout a conversation, so it will remember what you asked at the beginning of a chat and respond in that context.

Also: 3 ways Amazon just leapfrogged Apple, Google, and ChatGPT in the AI race

But Alexa+ will not be available for all Echo devices, at least not initially. Here's a list of the Echo devices that will support Alexa+ when it begins rolling out over the next month:

Echo devices compatible with Alexa+

• Echo Show 8
• Echo Show 10
• Echo Show 15
• Echo Show 21

Amazon said it is prioritizing these Echo Show displays in the early access period of Alexa+, so the revamped virtual assistant will eventually be available on other Echo devices not listed above.

However, once you have Alexa+ on one of these Echo Shows, you can use it on the rest of your compatible Echo speakers and devices, as well as web browser, the Alexa app, compatible Fire TVs, and Fire tablets.

Also: 7 exciting AI features coming with Alexa+ (and how to get the service for free)

Every Echo device thatinitiallywon't support Alexa+

The following devices won't immediately support Amazon's Alexa+ unless you have or purchase an Echo Show 8, 10, 15, or 21. Amazon says that getting access to Alexa+ by owning or purchasing one of the Echo Shows above will make the revamped virtual assistant available on all Echo devices, with the exception of some older generations:

• Echo Show 5
• Echo Show 5 Kids
• Echo Hub
• Echo
• Echo Dot
• Echo Dot Kids
• Echo Pop
• Echo Spot
• Echo Studio
• Echo Auto
• Echo Buds

Here's the official text from the company:

"When you get access to Alexa+ by owning or purchasing an Echo Show 8, 10, 15, or 21, it will be available on all Echo devices, with the exception of certain older-generation Echo devices like Echo Dot 1st Gen, Echo 1st Gen, Echo Plus 1st Gen, Amazon Tap, Echo Show 1st Gen, Echo Show 2nd Gen, and Echo Spot 1st Gen, where you can continue to use the original Alexa. You'll also be able to try Alexa+ on your web browser, the Alexa app, compatible Fire TVs, and Fire tablets. This experience is not currently supported on Alexa Built-in devices and Amazon Astro; however, we look forward to expanding Alexa+ to additional devices in the future."

Also: Everything announced at Amazon's Alexa event: Alexa+, new Echo Show UI, and more

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