Amazon Echo devices may be getting an AI-powered upgrade, but it won't be free. According to information obtained by Reuters from several anonymous Amazon employees, the company is developing an advanced version of Alexa called "Remarkable Alexa" that could replace the existing version. This new version will have two tiers -- a free option that does what the devices do now -- only a little bit better, and another option that injects even more generative AI.

Amazon Prime Day 2024 is back this July: Everything you need to know (plus some shoppable deals) The generative AI version will reportedly cost between $5 and $10 per month, and Amazon will not include it with a Prime subscription. What does generative AI Alexa look like? To start "Nearly Human Conversations" and the ability to create and send emails and take Uber Eats orders. An upgraded Alexa may also be able to handle multiple queries back-to-back, meaning you don't have to say "Alexa" repeatedly during a conversation.

While $10 a month isn't much, it's an open question whether customers will be willing to pay for the extra functionality. An Amazon Prime subscription costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year. Is it worth paying the extra $120 a year to upgrade to Alexa? The surveyed staff also warned that users would probably have to buy other Alexa devices to fully take advantage of Alexa.

According to the reports, Amazon in 2024 set a deadline for employees to be ready for Alexa, so we may not have to wait too long to find the answer.