Amazon eyes new direction for Alexa with AI overhaul

NEW YORK, Feb 26 (Reuters): Amazon on Wednesday is set to host an event showcasing new capabilities for Alexa that will bring the service into the age of generative artificial intelligence, more than a decade after it ushered in a wave of investment in voice assistants.

The firm has been short on details beyond confirming an event it is hosting with its head of devices in New York is Alexa-focused. However, people familiar with the matter told Reuters the event will see the unveiling of a secret project known internally as "Banyan" aimed at making Alexa more conversational.

The effort carries significant weight at Amazon, which has plowed billions of dollars into Alexa since its launch in 2014 in the hope of driving sales on its main e-commerce website.

The new Alexa AI service will be able to respond to multiple prompts in sequence and, company executives have said, even act as an "agent" by taking actions for users without their direct involvement.