Amazon’s AI assistant Alexa+ now works with Angi, Expedia, Square, and Yelp (techcrunch.com)

Amazon is enhancing its AI-powered assistant Alexa+ by adding integrations with Angi, Expedia, Square, and Yelp starting in 2026. This expansion allows users to book hotels, obtain quotes for home services, and schedule salon appointments directly through Alexa, making the digital assistant a powerful all-in-one tool for managing various services. Users can interact with Alexa in natural language, asking tailored questions like finding pet-friendly hotels or booking rides, akin to how ChatGPT is evolving with app integrations. This development is significant for the AI/ML community as it showcases a shift towards AI assistants functioning as platform interfaces, potentially revolutionizing how consumers engage with online services. While initial user engagement has been promising, for Alexa+ to succeed, it must provide a seamless experience that rivals traditional web and mobile apps. The challenge lies in convincing users to adapt to this new interaction model while maintaining a breadth of services that meets their needs effectively and without feeling intrusive. As AI providers explore this approach, the focus will need to be on making the experience both intuitive and beneficial for users.