Amazon is rolling out a new update for its Alexa Plus assistant that expands its ability to connect with smart home devices in more sophisticated ways. The update allows Alexa Plus to link up with products from a range of manufacturers including Bosch, Delta, Ecovacs, iRobot, Yale Home, Whirlpool, Tapo, and Eufy, among others. The system can now automatically route user requests to the appropriate device without requiring manual selection.
How the Update Works
In an example provided by Amazon, a person with a supported washing machine can say, "Alexa, my kid's soccer jersey could use a deep clean, but the tag says cold wash only." From there, Alexa Plus would navigate the washer's cycle options and choose the correct setting. This capability is powered by Amazon's new AI developer toolkit, which is designed to make it easier for device makers to connect to Alexa Plus. The toolkit supports "unique capabilities that weren't supported before," according to Amazon.
Background on Alexa Plus
Amazon widely launched its revamped AI assistant in February. The assistant can handle multi-step requests and help users create routines using voice commands. However, it currently only performs tasks in a limited number of third-party services, such as Ticketmaster, OpenTable, Uber, Thumbtack, Expedia, Yelp, Square, and Angi.
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Adopting the Model Context Protocol
Amazon is trying to change this by adopting the Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open-source standard that allows AI models to connect to external systems and tools. This will give more brands the ability to interact with Alexa Plus. Companies including Canva, Headspace, Priceline, Lyft, Cengage, Virgin Atlantic, and Weekend are launching integrations later this year.
For example, Priceline will give customers the ability to browse hotel options and book a trip directly through Alexa Plus. Priceline, along with Atom Tickets, Cengage, Fandango, and Taskrabbit, will soon support payments through Amazon Wallet as well.