Everyone Agrees: Alexa+ Is So Bad

When I first mounted Amazon's new Echo Show 15 on my kitchen wall, I was enthusiastic about its potential as a hands-free entertainment device. I enjoy listening to music or playing YouTube videos in the background as I'm cooking dinner. So, moving that from my phone and onto the wall, with Amazon's upgraded Alexa+ AI voice assistant that I can prompt hands-free, sounded like a winning combo.

But now, after more than a month with Alexa+ on this 15-inch screen, I've concluded that Alexa+ simply does not work well and lacks the basic reliability I need from a smart home device. Yes, it is still in early access, but it maneuvers like an unpredictable toddler smashing around and half-completing tasks.

The company reworked its well-known voice assistant in 2025, putting generative AI at the core of this new experience. As of earlier this year, Alexa+ is available to all Amazon Prime subscribers in the U.S. Echo owners are automatically switched over to the new version but can go back by asking to "exit Alexa+." It is not clear how long this will remain an option.

Please select this link to read the complete article from WIRED.