Amazon has just added a new AI feature to Alexa+. This one, however, is designed for anyone who wants a podcast on an oddly specific topic. The company has introduced Alexa Podcasts, a new Alexa+ feature that generates podcast-style audio episodes on demand. Amazon says users can ask for an episode on “virtually any topic,” with Alexa creating the audio in just a few minutes. No documents, uploads, or prep work are needed.
How does this work?
The process is pretty simple. You ask Alexa+ about something you want to learn, and it pulls together relevant information to build a custom audio episode. Alexa will give you an overview of what it plans to cover and even lets you adjust the length or direction conversationally, before generating the final version.
Once you approve the outline, it creates a recording using AI-generated host voices. Users then get a notification on an Echo Show device or in the Alexa app when the episode is ready. The finished episode can also be found later in the Music and More section or played through the Alexa app while on the go.
What kind of podcasts can you create?
Amazon’s new features basically turn your curiosity into quick audio lessons. Some examples include topics regarding trending news, sports recaps, new music releases, movies, history, and much more. According to the announcement, Alexa+ can draw from more than 200 news publications and other sources. Amazon specifically mentioned named partners like the Associated Press, Reuters, The Washington Post, TIME, Forbes, Business Insider, Politico, USA Today, and publishers from Condé Nast, Hearst, and Vox. Sourcing from these platforms was key, as the focus was to offer accurate information to users.
Alexa Podcasts is available now to Alexa+ customers in the US. The company is also exploring similar types of on-demand custom audio, including personalized news briefings and content based on information or documents users choose to share. All of this just makes Alexa feel like it’s becoming less of a voice assistant and more of a personalized media machine. While it can summarize, explain, and now perform as a tiny podcast host, human podcasters probably don’t need to panic yet.
At the start of this year, the company even introduced Alexa+ on the web to plan meals and order groceries. So it’s clear that Amazon is trying to make Alexa+ your go-to for just about anything.
