Amazon has added generative artificial intelligence (GAI) to its Alexa voice assistant and launched new AI-powered devices for children.

I’ve been an Alexa fan for many years and have Echo devices in almost every room of my house. We’ve used them to listen to music and Audible books, control lights, air conditioners and other smart devices, and to get information on demand — everything from the weather to brief biographies of notable people.

Echo audio devices range from inexpensive small speakers to higher-end models like the $219 Echo Studio with immersive spatial sound and Dolby Atmos. There are also numerous third-party speakers with Alexa built-in, including some very high-end audio systems. Amazon also offers Alexa devices with screens ranging from under $60, such as the Echo Show 5 with its 5-inch smart display, to the $400 Echo Show 21″ kitchen hub for home organization, which includes built-in Fire TV and Alexa. We have a smaller Echo Show in our kitchen, which we use for reading recipes on screen. Alexa is also available on smartphones, PCs and tablets, along with Amazon’s own Fire Tablets that deliver many of the features of far more expensive Apple and Android models at a much lower price.

Alexa+ AI
Now Alexa is getting smarter thanks to Amazon’s own generative AI model, which, although unique, shares characteristics with other GAI models developed by OpenAI, Google, Meta and others. It’s available in new Echo devices but may not work with some older models or Alexa-compatible devices from other companies. The new AI version has access to far more information than before and can engage in natural back-and-forth conversations without requiring the wake word (“Alexa”) between responses and follow-up questions.

I’ve been testing Amazon’s GAI on my regular Echo smart speakers as well as a new Echo Dot Kids device provided by Amazon for review.

Echo Dot Kids with parental controls
The newest Echo Dot Kids starts at $34.95. Aside from its colorful kid-friendly exterior and default child settings (which can be toggled off), it’s nearly identical to the regular Echo Dot. Changing parental controls or turning off Kids mode requires the parent to log in with their own Amazon account.

Setup is similar to any other Echo device. Once connected to Wi-Fi and configured in the Alexa app, it invites you to download the Amazon Kids app, used to add and manage family members between the ages of 2 and 12.

From its bright design to its child-friendly AI, the Echo Kids experience is built for young users. It offers age-appropriate content and responses and includes a free one-year subscription to Amazon Kids+, which provides thousands of books, games, videos and Alexa skills (though selection varies by device). It comes with a two-year free replacement warranty, longer than the warranty for standard Echo devices.

Parents can control what their children can access by adjusting settings for each device and content category. They can also set daily time limits, pause or resume use, and review their child’s activity.

Age-appropriate responses
Like other newer Echo devices, the Kids version includes Alexa+, but its responses are tailored for children. When I asked, “Who was Adolf Hitler?” it replied that he “was a person who lived a long time ago in Germany” and “was the leader of Germany at a very difficult time when many people were hurt during a big war called World War II.” When I asked the same question on a regular Echo device, I got a longer, more explicit answer that would likely have been too disturbing for young children.

When I asked about birth control, it replied, “Birth control is a topic best discussed with a trusted grown-up like a parent or doctor. They can explain it in a way that’s right for you. Is there something else you’d like to know about growing up?” The adult version of Alexa, by contrast, gave me a detailed and medically accurate explanation.

In addition to games, skills, videos, and other children’s media, you can ask the Echo Kids to tell a personalized story. When I said, “Tell me a story about a blue rabbit and a boy named Billie,” it generated a charming, customized story. The more details you give, the more tailored the story becomes.

Although the Echo Kids devices are designed for children, they can be switched to an adult profile, making them essentially identical to regular Echo Dots. If you toggle out of Kids mode, Alexa assumes the user is an adult. And if you already have an Echo device, you can configure it for children through the Alexa app, though depending on the model’s age, it may not support the new AI features.

Amazon’s move to add generative AI to Alexa, and to tailor it for both kids and adults, hints at the next stage of smart assistants: more natural, more personal, and more aware of who’s listening.

Disclosure: Larry Magid is CEO of ConnectSafely, a nonprofit internet safety organization that receives financial support from Amazon Kids and other tech companies.