According to The Verge, the official Alexa.com website is now live for some users, serving as the new web interface for Amazon’s revamped Alexa Plus AI assistant. The site was first announced at the Alexa Plus launch event in February 2024 but had only shown an information page until this limited rollout. Users who access it now, including the reporter, are greeted with a chatbot interface similar to the one in the Alexa app, featuring prompt categories like Plan, Learn, Create, Shop, and Find. Access currently requires being part of the Alexa Plus Early Access program, which itself needs a Prime membership, with Amazon also planning a standalone $19.99 monthly subscription. The interface integrates smart home controls, calendar, lists, and file uploads, directly competing with services like ChatGPT and Claude.
The web interface is a game-changer
Look, this is a huge deal for anyone who’s ever been frustrated shouting at an Echo in a noisy room. I’ve missed the old Alexa web interface Amazon killed off in 2022 ever since it vanished, especially for managing smart home devices. Having a keyboard and a big screen to interact with Alexa Plus? That’s not just an upgrade over the app—it’s a whole new category of usefulness. You can actually *see* your recent chats, browse your uploaded files, and manage your smart home without pulling out your phone. It transforms Alexa from a voice-only kitchen companion into something you might actually use while working at your desk. Basically, it makes the assistant feel professional.
Amazon’s real AI play
Here’s the thing: this move isn’t really about giving existing Alexa users a new toy. It’s Amazon’s first serious shot at making Alexa Plus a true, everywhere-you-go AI assistant. Up until now, Alexa lived in speakers and apps. ChatGPT and Gemini live in your browser and phone, seamlessly. By planting its flag at alexa.com, Amazon is saying, “We’re in that game now.” The pre-built prompts for planning trips or creating study guides are a direct challenge to the other AI chatbots. And let’s be honest, integrating your Amazon shopping list and smart home controls is a killer feature those other services can’t match. It’s a smart, contextual advantage.
The road ahead is still bumpy
But let’s not get carried away. The rollout is limited, and Alexa Plus itself is still in Early Access. The small-print warning that “Alexa may not always get it right” is a pretty honest admission that this is still a work in progress. And the subscription model? A $19.99 monthly fee on top of Prime is a steep ask when the competition has capable free tiers. Can Amazon convince people to pay that much for an AI that’s historically been, well, a bit of a joke compared to the others? They’ll need to prove this new brain is significantly better, especially at following complex instructions. The web interface is a fantastic foundation, but the AI itself still has to deliver.
A return to the web
It’s funny, isn’t it? Amazon is essentially resurrecting the old Alexa.com domain that it shut down, but for a completely different purpose. That old site was a web traffic tool. This new one is a portal to an AI future. This shift feels like a necessary correction. In the race to put AI in everything, the humble browser tab got overlooked by the big hardware players. Now Amazon is correcting course. If they can seamlessly blend the convenience of voice at home with the precision of text on the web, they might finally have a compelling answer to the other giants. It’s a good start. But the real test is whether people will bother to type into alexa.com instead of just opening another tab.
