Amazon's 'Alexa+' AI Upgrade: Prime Members Get It for Free, Non-Prime Users Shell Out $20/Month

Amazon has introduced 'Alexa+', a new AI upgrade for its voice assistant, which adds several enhanced features and capabilities. The catch is that while this service is free for Amazon Prime members, it comes with a $19.99/month fee for non-Prime users. This pricing model raises eyebrows given that an annual Prime membership costs just $139/year or $14.99/month. By making 'Alexa+' a premium standalone service, Amazon aligns its price point with other AI services like ChatGPT Plus and Gemini Advanced. However, this move could indicate potential future increases in the cost of Amazon Prime to balance out the value proposition.