Alexa+ arrives in Japan, included with Prime after free trial

Amazon launched Alexa+ Early Access in Japan on October 29, bringing its generative AI assistant to Japanese conversations and household tasks. The trial is free. After Early Access, the service will cost ¥3,000 a month, with no additional charge for Amazon Prime members.

Amazon is inviting owners and new buyers of compatible Echo and Fire TV devices in stages. Once admitted, they can use Alexa+ on supported devices, the Alexa app and a browser.

Amazon says users can continue talking after invoking Alexa once, without repeating the wake word. They can upload school schedules, appliance manuals or photographs of handwritten recipes through the app and ask about their contents. Alexa+ can also add calendar events and summarize existing appointments. A conversation started on Echo Show can continue on a phone or browser, retaining its context.

New Echo Dot and Echo Time devices went on sale in Japan on the same day. Announced tax-inclusive prices are ¥17,980 and ¥35,980 respectively. Echo Time has a 3.2-inch round touchscreen for alarms, music and weather. Echo Dot adds a built-in smart-home hub for compatible lights and appliances. Echo Dot also detects presence, room temperature and tap gestures.

Recipes arrive now; bookings and delivery follow

Recipe service Delish Kitchen joined the Japanese launch. Operator every announced that Alexa+ would begin suggesting its recipes on October 29. The service has more than 57,000 recipes supervised by registered dietitians. Suggestions can take account of ingredients, cooking time, household size and family preferences discussed in the conversation.

According to every, users can add recipe ingredients to Alexa’s shopping list and hear cooking instructions one step at a time. Recipe information also supports ingredient substitutions and quantity conversions. Favorites can be saved and revisited in the app.

Home controls require compatible products and advance setup. Amazon describes adjusting lights or temperature through ordinary language and creating routines that combine several actions by voice. An air conditioner without native Alexa support needs another compatible device, such as a smart remote. Some routines also require configuration beforehand.

Amazon also plans a development toolkit to expose manufacturers’ product-specific functions. Smart Home AI Toolkit is intended to connect everyday requests with actions a supported device can perform. Its illustrative example links a request to rest tired legs with a powered bed’s position controls.

In Japan, Amazon is working with six companies, including SwitchBot, LIXIL and Paramount Bed. The company says it will discuss the particular functions, whether they reach users and their timing with each manufacturer. Japanese toolkit availability and usage conditions will be announced when ready.

Early partner Paramount Bed separately said it expects to receive the toolkit before general availability. It plans to use its Active Sleep BED W model to test natural-language bed controls and explore the feasibility of an assistant that understands users’ routines and sleep patterns.

The company will also examine uses for its existing sleep knowledge and data. Its stated aim combines generative AI, sleep data and connected devices; it gave no customer release date. It describes a toolkit using manufacturers’ existing software interfaces to reduce the work of exposing complex device functions.

Restaurant bookings, delivery and ticket purchases are planned follow-ups. Amazon lists Tabelog reservations, Uber Eats and Demae-can deliveries, and Ticket Pia purchases among the future Japanese integrations. Some music, video and other services can require separate registration, contracts or charges.