In a major move to expand the reach of its artificial intelligence, Amazon has officially launched a web-based version of its advanced voice assistant, Alexa+. The announcement was made at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026, currently underway in Las Vegas, Nevada, from January 6 to 9. This new platform, accessible via Alexa.com, marks a significant shift, allowing users to interact with the next-generation AI without needing a physical Echo device.
From Ground-Up Rebuild to Web Access
Amazon has completely rebuilt its digital assistant from the ground up, infusing it with advanced AI capabilities. First introduced in 2025, Alexa+ was designed to handle more complex questions, generate AI content, plan detailed trip itineraries, and perform a wider range of tasks. The company states that Alexa+ is now available on the web for Early Access customers, who must log in with their Amazon account to start a conversation.
Daniel Rausch, Vice President of Alexa and Echo at Amazon, highlighted the assistant's unique capabilities. "76 per cent of what customers are using Alexa+ for no other AI can do," he told TechCrunch. He gave an example of sending a photo of an old family recipe to Alexa and getting guided, interactive cooking assistance, including ingredient substitutions.
What Can the New Alexa+ Website Do?
The newly launched Alexa.com website is built for productivity and context-aware assistance. It features a navigation sidebar for quick access to frequently used functions, helping users resume tasks like checking shopping lists or calendar appointments.
For Alexa+ to deliver its full potential, it requires access to user data like emails, calendars, and documents. Once granted, it can extract key details, manage schedules, plan meals, and recall specific information on demand. Amazon claims the assistant can remember when a pet was last vaccinated, track children's sports schedules, and monitor upcoming social events.
Smart home controls are integrated directly into the chat interface. Users can seamlessly switch from a conversation to viewing a front-door camera, adjusting thermostat settings, or turning lights on or off, all within the same window.
A Competitive AI Assistant Landscape
The web launch of Alexa+ arrives amidst intense competition in the AI-powered assistant space. Tech giants are racing to develop smarter, more conversational assistants built around large language models (LLMs). These new agents aim to better understand context and take autonomous actions.
In October 2025, Google launched 'Gemini For Home,' a suite of AI features for its smart home ecosystem, including Gemini Live for natural, real-time conversations. Apple is also anticipated to unveil its long-awaited, AI-revamped Siri later this year.
Amazon's strategy involves deep integration with third-party services. The company recently added Expedia, Yelp, and Square to Alexa+, complementing existing links with Uber, Suno, and Ticketmaster. With over 600 million Alexa-enabled devices sold globally, Amazon emphasizes backward compatibility, ensuring Alexa+ works on 97% of existing Alexa devices and supports tens of thousands of legacy skills and integrations.
Concurrently, Amazon announced a redesign of its Alexa mobile app to make it more "agent-forward," further cementing its commitment to an AI-first future for its voice assistant platform.
