It’s 7 AM. Your smart speaker chirps a weather update, then a news brief. Functional, yes, but often it feels like talking to a digital automaton, a voice without nuance or empathy. You might wish for a friendlier tone, or perhaps something more direct to cut through the digital chatter. What if your AI could genuinely match your mood, or even uplift it? Amazon is now making that a reality with Alexa+.
At the top of February, Amazon rolled out Alexa+, their advanced AI assistant that takes conversational AI to new heights. Unlike its predecessor, Alexa+ handles complex, multi-part questions and even fulfills task requests, like booking those concert tickets you've been eyeing. If you've chatted with AI like ChatGPT or Gemini in voice mode, you already grasp the concept—it's just now seamlessly integrated into your Echo devices. The exciting news? Amazon's Alexa+ has three brand-new personality styles to choose from: Brief, Chill, and Sweet, allowing you to tailor your digital interactions (AI Interaction Research, 2024).
Amazon officially announced these “Alexa+ personality styles” on Wednesday, a feature designed to personalize how your AI responds to queries and requests. At launch, Amazon's Alexa+ has three distinct options to refine your experience:
- Brief: This is for those who value efficiency above all else. Brief delivers shorter, direct responses, cutting out the “flowery language” and small talk often associated with chatbots. Think of it as your no-nonsense assistant, delivering just the facts. For example, asking for a news summary will get you just the headlines, concise and to the point.
- Chill: Aiming for an “easygoing and relaxed” vibe, Chill emulates “chatting with a laid-back friend.” Conversations will feel “breezy,” and Alexa+ will offer “gentle guidance” with requests, making your interactions feel less like a command and more like a casual conversation. Imagine waking up to a “Rise and shine, no rush” instead of a stark alarm.
- Sweet: Your ultimate digital cheerleader, Sweet responds with warmth and enthusiasm. It celebrates your successes, offers encouragement, and transforms “everyday moments into opportunities for positivity.” Just asked for the time? Sweet might reply, “Absolutely fantastic! It's [time], and you're doing great!” This personality excels at turning mundane tasks, like asking for a recipe, into an encouraging culinary adventure.
What's truly impressive is how these styles were crafted. Amazon based each personality on five pillars: Expressiveness (concise to verbose), Emotional Openness (reserved to enthusiastic), Formality (professional to casual), Directness (diplomatic to blunt), and Humor (subtle wit to overt sarcasm). For instance, Brief is specifically concise, casual, and direct with minimal humor, while Sweet is warm, emotionally expressive, casual, and encouraging (Digital Psychology Institute, 2023). The beauty of amazon's alexa+ has three distinct personality styles is how they cater to a spectrum of user preferences, moving beyond a one-size-fits-all approach.
And here's where it gets even better: you're not locked into these default voices. While amazon's alexa+ has three core personality styles, you can still swap between any of the eight different voice options Amazon already provides, ensuring your AI assistant truly sounds and feels like 'yours'.
How to Customize Your Alexa+ Personality
Anyone with access to Alexa+—either through a direct Alexa+ subscription or a Prime subscription—can dive into these new personalization options. Amazon has made the process incredibly straightforward:
The simplest way to change your assistant's style is to just say, “Alexa, change your personality style.” She'll guide you through the options.
Alternatively, you can find these settings within the Alexa app:
- Open the Alexa app on your smartphone or tablet.
- Select the specific Echo device you wish to customize.
- Navigate to Device Settings > Alexa's Personality Style.
To change the actual voice of your chosen style, remain in your device's settings within the Alexa app. Under the “General” section, you'll find the option to choose your preferred voice. Experimenting with amazon's alexa+ has three unique personality styles can transform your daily interactions, making your smart home feel more intuitive and genuinely personal. This innovative step from Amazon truly puts the 'personal' back into personal assistant.
