Alexa Plus Can Now Run Your Washing Machine and Book Your Hotel
Amazon's upgraded voice assistant is learning to control dozens of new smart home devices and third-party services, using a new AI standard that lets brands plug in far more easily.
Key points
- Amazon is adding smart home brands including Bosch, Whirlpool, iRobot and Yale Home to its Alexa Plus AI assistant in a new update.
- Alexa Plus, first launched broadly in February 2025, can already handle multi-step voice requests across a limited set of apps.
- Amazon is adopting Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open standard that makes it easier for outside companies to connect their products and services to Alexa Plus.
- New service partners, including Priceline, Lyft and Canva, will launch integrations later in 2025.
- Priceline, Atom Tickets, Fandango and Taskrabbit will also support payments through Amazon Wallet via Alexa Plus.
Amazon is expanding what its Alexa Plus voice assistant can do, adding a wave of smart home brands and online services to the mix. The update, reported by The Verge AI, means Alexa Plus can now talk directly to devices from Bosch, Whirlpool, Ecovacs, iRobot, Eufy, Tapo, Delta, Yale Home and others.
Amazon's own example makes the ambition clear. Say you tell Alexa, "My kid's soccer jersey could use a deep clean, but the tag says cold wash only." A supported washing machine would receive the right cycle setting automatically, without you touching a single button.
How does Alexa Plus actually pull this off?
Two things make the new connections possible. First, Amazon released a new AI developer toolkit, a set of software tools that makes it easier for device makers to link their products to Alexa Plus, including gadgets with unusual features that older Alexa couldn't handle.
Second, Amazon is adopting Model Context Protocol, or MCP. MCP is an open-source standard, a shared technical language that lets AI models talk to outside apps and devices without each company having to build its own custom connection from scratch. Think of it as a universal plug socket for AI.
With MCP, brands like Canva, Headspace, Lyft, Priceline, Virgin Atlantic and others can connect to Alexa Plus without as much heavy lifting on their side. Those integrations arrive later in 2025.
What can Alexa Plus actually do right now?
Right now, it handles multi-step requests and lets you set up routines using your voice. It works with a fairly short list of services: Ticketmaster, OpenTable, Uber, Expedia, Yelp, Thumbtack, Square and Angi.
The upcoming Priceline integration is a concrete preview of where things are heading. You would be able to browse hotel options and complete a booking entirely through a voice conversation. Priceline, Atom Tickets, Cengage, Fandango and Taskrabbit will also process payments through Amazon Wallet, meaning money could change hands without you opening a separate app.
| Partner type | Examples | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Smart home devices | Bosch, Whirlpool, iRobot, Yale Home, Eufy | New, rolling out now |
| Existing services | Uber, OpenTable, Expedia, Ticketmaster | Live |
| Incoming services | Priceline, Lyft, Canva, Virgin Atlantic | Later in 2025 |
| Wallet payments | Priceline, Fandango, Taskrabbit, Atom Tickets | Later in 2025 |
Should you be cautious about voice-controlled payments?
Voice-activated purchases are convenient, but they do carry real risk. Anyone who can speak near your device could, in principle, trigger a transaction. Before Alexa Plus handles payments on your behalf, check that your Amazon account has a voice purchase PIN enabled. That single step blocks accidental or unauthorised orders.
Also worth knowing: the more services an AI assistant connects to, the larger the footprint of data it touches. As Alexa Plus expands its reach into appliances, travel bookings and payments, it is worth reviewing which devices and accounts are linked in your Alexa app settings.
