Anthropic's Claude large language model is powering the majority of complex tasks for Amazon's new Alexa+, sources tell CNBC.

Amazon is gearing up to launch new hardware to go along with its AI-upgraded Alexa. During an interview with Bloomberg, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said the company has a “brand new lineup of devices that are coming in the fall that are beautiful.

Alexa+, Amazon’s revamped version of Alexa was unveiled Wednesday, bringing the popular voice assistant into the artificial intelligence era.

Some of the new abilities coming to Alexa Plus include the ability to do things for you — you’ll be able to ask it to order groceries for you or send event invites to your friends. Amazon says it will also be able to memorize personal details like your diet and movie preferences.

But unlike before, when Alexa was offered for free on any Alexa-enabled devices, customers will have to pay Amazon a monthly fee of $19.99 for the revamped voice assistant, which it calls “Alexa+”. However, the generative-AI powered Alexa will be free for Prime members, who pay the company a monthly or annual fee for free delivery and other perks.

There's one major shift in the way Amazon is approaching its next-gen Alexa, and it's got nothing to do with AI

Amazon has announced Alexa Plus, an AI-powered upgrade that promises a smarter, more conversational, and proactive voice assistant.

Amazon Alexa’s long-awaited AI overhaul is here, and it’s the biggest upgrade in the history of voice assistants.