Amazon has officially launched Alexa+ in Australia, introducing the biggest overhaul of its voice assistant since Alexa first arrived locally in 2018. Powered by generative artificial intelligence, the upgraded assistant is designed to hold more natural conversations, remember user preferences and carry out a wider range of everyday tasks. The rollout begins this week through an Early Access program, with Amazon planning to invite thousands of Australian customers to try the new service over the coming weeks. Owners of eligible Echo devices can register their interest, while those purchasing a compatible new Echo speaker can opt in immediately. Alexa+ is built on Amazon’s Bedrock large language model platform and marks a shift away from the traditional command-based voice assistant experience. Among its new capabilities are restaurant bookings, shopping assistance, calendar management and smart home automation. Alexa+ has been tailored specifically for Australian users, recognising local slang, sporting references and cultural expressions. Music, entertainment and smart home controls have been expanded, with support for Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music and local radio services, while also integrating with Prime Video, Audible and news providers including ABC, Reuters, AAP, The Associated Press and The Guardian. Shopping has become more intelligent, allowing users to compare products, summarise customer reviews, monitor Amazon orders, alert them to price reductions and purchase products after confirming availability and pricing. The assistant also works more closely with Ring smart home devices, analysing Ring camera footage to identify deliveries. Alexa+ can recognise individual household members using voice and visual identification, remember favourite music,