Get ready to revolutionize the way you discover music! Amazon has just brought its AI-powered assistant, Alexa+, to the Amazon Music app, and it’s a game-changer for music lovers. But here’s where it gets exciting: this isn’t just about playing songs—it’s about having a natural, conversational experience that feels like chatting with a music-savvy friend. Announced on Tuesday, Alexa+ is now available for iOS and Android users, though it’s currently limited to those with early access. (To try it out, simply tap the ‘a’ button in the lower right corner of the app and ask away using your phone’s microphone.)
Unlike the original Alexa, which could only handle basic commands, Alexa+ is designed to engage in deeper, more meaningful interactions. And this is the part most people miss: it can answer specific, even obscure questions about music, like an artist’s influences or the hidden meanings behind lyrics. Forgot the title of a song? Just hum a few lyrics or mention the movie it was in, and Alexa+ will likely find it for you. It’s like having a personal music historian at your fingertips.
But here’s where it gets controversial: Alexa+ doesn’t just answer questions—it creates personalized playlists based on your mood, preferences, or even quirky requests. For example, you could ask, ‘Make a playlist of 2010s hits to keep me energized, starting with a Nicki Minaj track,’ and it’ll deliver. Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, try something like, ‘Recommend music that’ll make me seem cool to my teenage daughter without trying too hard.’ Is this the future of music discovery, or does it take the human touch out of the equation? Let us know what you think in the comments.
Alexa+ was first unveiled in February at Amazon’s hardware event, positioning itself as one of the first consumer-focused AI agents. Beyond music, it can handle tasks like booking restaurant reservations or ordering groceries, though it’s still in its early stages. Despite this, it’s already rolled out to over a million users, with impressive results: Amazon reports that listeners are exploring songs three times more with Alexa+ than with the original assistant, and those seeking recommendations are listening to nearly 70% more music.
But here’s the bigger picture: With Spotify’s recent integration of ChatGPT, Amazon’s move feels like a strategic play to compete in the AI-driven music streaming space. Amazon Music has already been doubling down on AI, with features like weekly AI-generated playlists, AI-assisted search, and the ‘Explore’ tool, which dives deep into artist backgrounds. Is Amazon poised to outshine its competitors, or is this just another tech race? Only time will tell.
Lauren, who covers media, streaming, apps, and platforms at TechCrunch, brings you this update. For more insights or to verify outreach, you can reach her at laurenf.techcrunch@gmail.com or via encrypted message at laurenforris22.25 on Signal. What’s your take on Alexa+ and the future of AI in music? Share your thoughts below—we’d love to hear from you!
