The event invitation cleverly hinted at the significance of Alexa, featuring images that, when pieced together, spelled out its name.

Amazon has announced a delay of at least a month for its AI-powered upgrade for Alexa, originally set to be showcased on February 26, 2025.

The delay stems from the new Alexa struggling to provide accurate answers during testing, leading to concerns about its reliability.

This setback reflects broader challenges faced by tech companies in integrating AI into their products, despite significant investments.

Upgrading Alexa involves overcoming substantial technical hurdles, requiring a nuanced approach beyond simply integrating a large language model.

The revamped Alexa aims to enhance user interaction by managing multiple prompts simultaneously and performing tasks autonomously.

Expected features for the new Alexa include personality adoption, conversation recall, and the ability to order food or call a taxi.

While the existing version of Alexa will remain free, Amazon is considering a subscription model for the upgraded service, potentially costing users between $5 and $10 per month.

Amazon's decision to delay the release is aimed at maintaining customer trust and avoiding the launch of an unreliable product.

In a similar vein, Apple is also facing delays with its AI-enhanced Siri, which may push back features to the iOS 18.5 update expected in May 2025.

Both Amazon and Apple are navigating significant engineering challenges with their AI assistants, reflecting a competitive landscape in the tech industry.

The upcoming event will focus primarily on software improvements for Alexa, rather than hardware, indicating a strategic shift in Amazon's approach.