Alexa Plus is getting an AI update to handle more complicated instructions

TechAINewsAlexa Plus is getting an AI update to handle more complicated instructionsAmazon’s upgraded AI assistant will be able to do more across a wider range of smart home devices.Amazon’s upgraded AI assistant will be able to do more across a wider range of smart home devices.by Emma RothJul 23, 2026, 9:15 PM UTCLinkShareGiftPhoto by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The VergeEmma Roth is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO.Amazon is launching an update to its Alexa Plus assistant that will allow it to connect to smart home devices in new ways. With the update, which is currently in preview, Alexa Plus can link up with tech from Bosch, Delta, Ecovacs, iRobot, Yale Home, Whirlpool, Tapo, Eufy, and others, while automatically routing requests to the correct device.In an example shared by Amazon, a person with a supported washing machine can say, “Alexa, my kid’s soccer jersey could use a deep clean, but the tag says cold wash only.” From there, Alexa Plus would navigate the washer’s cycle options and choose the correct setting. The new integrations are powered by Amazon’s new AI developer toolkit, which is supposed to make it easier for device makers to connect to Alexa Plus, “including those with unique capabilities that weren’t supported before.”Amazon widely launched its revamped AI assistant in February, which can handle multi-step requests and help you create routines using your voice. It currently only performs tasks in a limited number of third-party services, such as Ticketmaster, OpenTable, Uber, Thumbtack, Expedia, Yelp, Square, and Angi.RelatedAmazon rolls out Alexa Plus nationwide and launches a new free tier24 hours with Alexa Plus: we cooked, we chatted, and it kinda lied to meBut Amazon is trying to change this by adopting the Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open-source standard that allows AI models to connect to external systems and tools. This will give more brands the ability to interact with Alexa Plus, with Canva, Headspace, Priceline, Lyft, Cengage, Virgin Atlantic, Weekend, and other companies launching integrations later this year.For example, Priceline will give customers the ability to browse hotel options and book a trip directly through Alexa Plus. Priceline, along with Atom Tickets, Cengage, Fandango, and Taskrabbit, will soon support payments through Amazon Wallet as well.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Emma RothAIAmazonAmazon AlexaNewsSmart HomeTechMost PopularMost PopularFacebook considers giving up and becoming TikTokThe tech-broification of American science has officially begunMicrosoft pressures LG into killing unwanted McAfee adsAfter backlash, Meta pauses plan to ‘rate limit’ its smart glassesMeta just created a moderation nightmare for its smart glassesThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native ad