The voice is part of the Alexa+ upgrade, which was launched early last year. <\/a><\/p>\n \u201cConversations with Alexa+ feel expansive and natural,\u201d The e-commerce giant described on their site.<\/a> \u201cWhether you\u2019re speaking in half-formed thoughts, using colloquial expressions, or exploring complex ideas, Alexa+ understands what you mean, and responds like a trusted assistant.\u201d<\/p>\n They added, \u201cIt feels less like interacting with technology, and more like engaging with an insightful friend.\u201d<\/p>\n And while the original updated as rolled out as an optional free update for Prime subscribers, it\u2019s now being launched in people\u2019s Echo devices without their go-ahead \u2014 like something out of a dystopian sci-fi flick.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a Prime member, you get Alexa+ for free, and we will update the devices registered to this account to the new, conversational, and more delightful Alexa experience,\u201d the email reads. \u201cThe upgrade takes just a few minutes and won\u2019t require any action from you.\u201d<\/p>\n Alexa customers were none too pleased with this technological force-feeding, nor the grating teenage voice that came with it.<\/p>\n \u201cAbsolutely hate it. The female voices are basically all the same, no variation in age,\u201d griped one Redditor. <\/a>\u201cIt sounds like I\u2019m talking to a teenage girl, wayyyy too peppy for me at 6 o\u2019clock in the morning. Strongly debating going to a different brand entirely, Google vs Apple.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYesterday it converted to the Alexa plus version (without prompting) and scared the s\u2013t out of me when a peppy voice started talking,\u201d griped another. \u201cWhen I asked Alexa to change back to her original voice, she went on for three minutes about how she was already in her original voice. Too much pep, sass, and intrusiveness. I\u2019ll take my robot robotically, please.\u201d<\/p>\n A third complained, \u201cI cussed at her because I had to repeat my request and she said,\u2019My aren\u2019t we salty today.\u2019 Annoying.\u201d<\/p>\n And it\u2019s not just Alexa\u2019s tone that has people up in arms. <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t mind the new voice, but what I don\u2019t like is how it wants to keep chatting when I\u2019m used to just hearing like the weather,\u201d one Amazon subscriber said. \u201cIt sticks around listening, and if you make a comment to someone else in the roo,m it responds to that. Just the facts ma\u2019am.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Amazon](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/alexa-smart-speaker-virtual-assistant-104038522.jpg\")
\u201cIt sounds like I\u2019m talking to a teenage girl,\u201d said one user of Alexa (pictured next to Smartphone with Alexa logo). Diego \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n![\"Amazon's](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/amazons-dot-alexa-device-shown-72481302.jpg\")
Amazon Alexa device. REUTERS<\/p>\n