Amazon has announced that its AI-powered digital assistant Alexa+ will integrate with four new services – Angi, Expedia, Square, and Yelp – starting in 2026, enhancing users’ ability to manage various tasks through voice commands.
The integration with Expedia will enable customers to compare hotel options, complete bookings, manage reservations, and receive personalized recommendations. Users will be able to issue specific requests, such as “Can you find me pet-friendly hotels for this weekend in Chicago?” This feature is part of a broader effort to facilitate access to online services via natural-language conversations, similar to ChatGPT’s app integrations.
Alexa+ already connects with several services, including Fodor, OpenTable, Suno, Ticketmaster, Thumbtack, and Uber. With these integrations, consumers can request actions like summoning an Uber ride or reserving a dinner table at OpenTable. The assistant supports back-and-forth dialogue, allowing users to refine requests during the interaction. For instance, users can engage in a conversation with Alexa+ to tailor their requests to specific needs.
Early data from Alexa+ adopters indicates strong engagement with home and personal service providers, including Thumbtack and Vagaro. This trend is part of a larger industry exploration into AI assistants as platforms for app-like functions to expand consumer access. Amazon’s expansions build on this trend, aiming to handle diverse services through conversational interfaces.
The success of these developments hinges on AI systems’ ability to deliver interactions that match or surpass the ease of web and mobile apps. To achieve this, AI providers must offer a breadth of services comparable to app stores, which curate selections more selectively than the open web. Alternatively, they must suggest relevant services at appropriate times without appearing promotional, as users often view unsolicited prompts as advertisements.
