TL;DR
Amazon has begun switching some Prime members’ Alexa devices to Alexa Plus without an opt-in step; users can reportedly revert to the prior Alexa experience by voice command. The change surfaces amid user complaints about response times, voice changes and increased promotional prompts.
What happened
Over the past couple of weeks, members of the r/alexa subreddit reported that Amazon had upgraded their Alexa devices to a new offering called Alexa Plus as a Prime perk. The rollout did not appear to require opt-in: users say the update arrived automatically, though Amazon’s messages to affected customers included instructions for returning to the prior assistant. Community posts describe telling the assistant to stop Alexa Plus — reportedly by saying, “Alexa, exit Alexa+” — to restore the original experience. Alexa Plus is described in reports as a large-language-model-driven revamp of Amazon’s voice assistant intended to contend with competitors. In response to the upgrade, some users complained about a different voice and tone, slower responses, and an uptick in promotional prompts when toggling the feature, while others noted broader concerns about LLM-driven assistant rollouts following issues reported with competing systems.
Why it matters
- Automatic upgrades remove explicit user choice about when and whether to adopt new AI-driven features.
- Shifts to LLM-backed assistants can change interaction style and latency, affecting everyday usability.
- Reported increases in promotional prompts raise questions about how new features will be monetized or advertised to users.
- The move positions Amazon’s assistant more directly against rivals that are also integrating large language models.
Key facts
- Reports originated on the r/alexa subreddit over the past couple of weeks.
- Affected users described the upgrade as an automatic Prime perk rather than an opt-in option.
- Amazon’s message to some users included instructions to revert to the prior assistant by voice command (reported as “Alexa, exit Alexa+”).
- Alexa Plus is characterized as an LLM-powered overhaul of Amazon’s Alexa.
- Some users reported disliking the updated voice and attitude of Alexa Plus.
- Other users said Alexa Plus sometimes took longer to respond than the previous version.
- There are reports that turning off Alexa Plus triggered an influx of ads or promotional prompts for some users.
- The article notes parallel concerns about LLM rollouts, citing problems reported during the Google Gemini update (misidentified objects and camera hallucinations).
What to watch next
- Whether Amazon will introduce a clear opt-out option or a user-controlled rollout schedule (not confirmed in the source).
- Any official response or statement from Amazon addressing user reports about response times and promotional prompts (not confirmed in the source).
- How broadly Alexa Plus will be rolled out beyond the Prime members who have reported automatic upgrades (not confirmed in the source).
Quick glossary
- Alexa Plus: A reported update to Amazon's Alexa that uses large language model technology to change how the assistant responds and behaves.
- LLM (large language model): A type of artificial intelligence trained on large datasets of text to generate natural-language responses and perform language-related tasks.
- Prime membership: Amazon’s subscription service that includes benefits such as shipping perks, streaming content and, in this context, reported access to feature upgrades.
- Rollout: The process by which a company distributes a software update or new feature to users over time.
Reader FAQ
Can Prime members opt out of the Alexa Plus upgrade before it installs?
According to user reports, the upgrade appears to be automatic and not opt-in; users can revert after installation.
How do I go back to the prior Alexa if my device updates?
Users reported being able to restore the prior assistant by voice, reportedly with the command “Alexa, exit Alexa+.”
Is Alexa Plus explicitly described as LLM-powered?
Yes — the reports describe Alexa Plus as an overhaul powered by a large language model.
Has Amazon commented publicly on the automatic upgrades or the user complaints?
not confirmed in the source
NEWS TECH AMAZON Amazon has started automatically upgrading Prime members to Alexa Plus Users can revert back to the original Alexa, but can’t opt out of the automatic update. by…
Sources
- Amazon has started automatically upgrading Prime members to Alexa Plus
- Alexa+
- Amazon is forcing Alexa+ on Prime members whether they …
- Alexa – Amazon.com
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