The news: Alexa+ is right around the corner—probably. Amazon said its upgraded AI voice assistant will start rolling out the US over the next few weeks during an early access period, then “in waves” over coming months.

• Alexa+ will come with improved conversation skills, music playback, and a price tag of $19.99 per month. It’s included in Prime memberships at no additional cost.
• The assistant, powered by Anthropic, will be able to analyze images, create smart home routines, and execute tasks like purchasing concert tickets or ordering groceries.