According to a recent report by Business Insider, Amazon is preparing to introduce a paid subscription plan for its voice assistant, Alexa, later this year. However, the expansion of the assistant has caused internal disputes and may delay its market launch.
Based on internal documents and sources familiar with the matter, Amazon is currently reconfiguring Alexa in preparation for the introduction of a paid subscription plan. The company plans to launch Alexa Remarkable on June 30th and has tested the new technology with 15,000 customers.
However, the report states that the quality of the responses provided by the new version of Alexa leaves much to be desired. It often delivers inaccurate information or unnecessarily lengthy responses. Additionally, tests have revealed that the company needs to improve Alexa’s ability to respond to requests that require simultaneous use of multiple services, such as turning on lights and playing music at the same time.
The report also highlights the internal debate within Amazon on whether people will be willing to pay for Alexa. PYMNTS contacted Amazon for comment but has not received a response at this time.
Despite the doubts within Amazon, research has shown that over half of consumers would be willing to pay for an AI-powered voice assistant. However, according to a survey conducted by PYMNTS Intelligence, the willingness to pay depends on the task.
The survey reveals that while consumers feel more comfortable using voice technology for simpler and less risky tasks such as playing music, setting alarms, and asking for directions, concerns about data errors and security breaches that could jeopardize sensitive information hinder the use of voice technology for more complex tasks.
This is especially true for actions involving personal or financial data, such as opening a bank account or scheduling a doctor’s appointment, with only 11% and 13% respectively expressing a willingness to use voice technology for these tasks.
Despite these reservations, there is an expectation that as voice technology advances, consumers will gradually trust its ability to perform more complex tasks with less risk.
FAQ:
1. What does Amazon plan to introduce with Alexa?
– According to Business Insider’s report, Amazon plans to introduce a paid subscription plan for Alexa.
2. When does the company plan to release this new version of Alexa?
– Amazon plans to launch Alexa Remarkable on June 30th.
3. What issues does the new version of Alexa have?
– According to the report, the new version of Alexa provides inaccurate and lengthy responses. Additionally, the company needs to improve Alexa’s ability to perform simultaneous tasks such as turning on lights and playing music at the same time.
4. Will consumers be willing to pay for Alexa?
– There is internal debate within Amazon on whether consumers will pay for Alexa or not.
5. Are customers ready to pay for a voice assistant?
– Research has shown that over half of consumers would be willing to pay for an AI-powered voice assistant.
6. What are the concerns related to using voice technology?
– Concerns about data errors and security breaches hinder the use of voice technology for more complex tasks such as opening a bank account or scheduling a doctor’s appointment.
7. Is there an expectation for a shift in consumer perception of voice technology?
– Despite reservations, there is an expectation that as voice technology advances, consumers will gradually trust its ability to perform more complex tasks with less risk.
Definitions:
– Alexa: Amazon’s advanced voice assistant powered by artificial intelligence.
– Paid subscription plan: A plan for which users pay a specific amount in exchange for access to specific services or features.
– Voice technology: Technology related to speech recognition and processing that enables communication with devices through voice commands.
Suggested Related Links:
– amazon.com
– businessinsider.com
– pymnts.com
The source of the article is from the blog trebujena.net