Amazon Offers Free Alexa+ on Fire TV Without Prime Subscription

Amazon has announced that its AI-powered Alexa+ will be made available for free on all compatible Fire TV devices in the U.S., regardless of whether users have an Amazon Prime subscription. The update includes features such as conversational search, smart home controls, and AI-driven recommendations. Previously, Alexa+ was a paid service costing $19.99 per month for non-Prime members and was initially available only on newer Fire TV devices launched last fall. Now, all compatible devices, including current-generation Fire TV Sticks, Fire TV Cube, Amazon Ember smart TVs, and select models from Hisense and Panasonic, will be automatically upgraded to Alexa+. This move aligns with industry efforts to integrate AI into more consumer electronics, similar to Google’s rollout of Gemini on Google TV and Roku’s AI voice assistant upgrade. Amazon claims that users of Alexa+ are engaging more with the AI, with nearly twice as many conversations compared to the original Alexa. The AI can also help manage smart home devices, such as displaying Ring camera feeds on the TV. The decision follows a broader trend of making AI services non-optional on consumer devices.