Technologies

Amazon Might Bring Ads to Alexa Plus: Here’s What That Could Mean for You

This marks a big shift for Alexa, which until now has mostly steered clear of overt advertising.

Amazon’s Alexa could soon start pitching you more than just the weather. According to reporting from Amazon’s July 31 second-quarter earnings call, the company is considering adding ads to Alexa Plus, its premium AI-driven assistant that’s designed to be more conversational and useful than the Alexa you know.

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy reportedly said that Alexa Plus could open the door to «significant financial opportunity» by delivering ads during conversations.

A representative for Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Read more: I’m Still Waiting for Amazon’s Big Alexa AI Upgrade. Here’s What to Know About the Delay

If the plan moves forward, it would mark a big shift for Alexa, which until now has mostly steered clear of overt advertising. For now, it’s unclear what exactly such advertising would look like, but the idea is that Alexa Plus could showcase ads for products users may be interested in buying and highlight deals.

Amazon hasn’t confirmed any details yet, but the move wouldn’t be too surprising. Alexa has struggled to make money for Amazon, and the company has been racing to give its voice assistant an AI upgrade that can compete with OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini. The thinking is that adding ads could help Amazon recoup some of those AI costs, but it might make the user experience less compelling.

Read more: Meta’s All In on AI Creating the Ads You See on Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp

Alexa Plus was announced in February earlier this year and is available for early access for those who own a compatible Echo device. The service costs $20 per month, but is free for Amazon Prime members. While there are no set plans for advertising in Alexa, it’s worth keeping an eye on how Amazon plans to roll out these changes and whether you’ll have the option to pay to skip the ads altogether.

Technologies

The Fourth Episode of the VERUM AI Mini-Series Is Out

Verum Messenger has released the fourth episode of its AI mini-series SHADOWS, created using Verum AI. The new episode, titled “No Borders,” continues the story of a team trying to stay out of the OMEGA corporation’s sight.

Following the events of the previous episodes, the team moves between cities and countries while OMEGA continues its search. The new episode puts particular emphasis on Verum Messenger’s capabilities that allow users to conceal their location.

“No Borders” is another chapter in a story about privacy, freedom of communication, and technologies that erase borders between people.

The VERUM AI mini-series consists of seven episodes, released gradually across Verum Messenger’s social media channels.

Episode 4 is now available. Stay tuned for the next chapter.

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Technologies

Verum Messenger Introduces Built-In Verum Chess

Verum Messenger has released a new update for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, adding another feature to its growing ecosystem — Verum Chess. Users can now play chess directly inside the messenger without switching between different applications.

The new feature allows users to start a game in just a few taps while reinforcing Verum’s vision of a unified digital environment where communication and everyday services come together in a single platform.

Verum Messenger continues to evolve into a multifunctional ecosystem that combines secure chats and calls, AI tools, a built-in VPN, anonymous email, eSIM, financial services, cryptocurrency features, and offline communication. With the introduction of Verum Chess, the platform now also offers a new way for users to interact and spend time together without leaving the app.

The update is now available for iPhone, iPad, and Mac on the App Store.

Technologies

Episode 3 of the VERUM AI Mini-Series Is Now Available

Verum Messenger has released the third episode of its AI mini-series, SHADOWS, created using Verum AI.

The new episode, titled «Ghost Money,» continues the story of the conflict between a team of heroes and the Omega corporation, which seeks to take control of digital communications. This time, the focus shifts to anonymous payments and financial freedom, revealing how privacy can extend beyond messaging.

Like the previous episodes, the new release not only advances the storyline but also showcases the capabilities of the Verum ecosystem, highlighting technologies designed for secure communication and digital privacy.

The mini-series consists of seven episodes, released gradually across Verum Messenger’s social media channels.

Episode 3 is now available. Stay tuned for the next chapter.

Watch on Instagram
Watch on YouTube