Amazon has officially unveiled its highly anticipated AI-powered upgrade to Alexa, its popular digital voice assistant, at a press event in New York City. The new version of Alexa is expected to come with a slew of advanced AI features, including the ability to adopt a personality, recall conversations, order takeout, or call a taxi, all of which will be available to users through a subscription-based model.

The event, which kicked off at 10AM ET on February 26th, was highly anticipated, with many expecting Amazon to announce new products featuring Alexa, such as updated Echos, Fire TV products, or even smart glasses. While the company has not yet revealed the full extent of its product lineup, the focus on Alexa's AI upgrade suggests that Amazon is committed to making its voice assistant a central part of its ecosystem.

The upgrade has been in the works for some time, with rumors of delays and issues with inaccurate answers to test questions. According to an anonymous Amazon employee, the updated assistant won't be available until at least March 31st, citing the need for further refinement. Despite these challenges, Amazon is betting big on Alexa's potential to revolutionize the way users interact with their devices.

The event itself was shrouded in mystery, with Amazon sending out five different invites that, when pieced together, spelled out the word "Alexa." This clever move hinted at the focus on Alexa's revamp, which was later confirmed by Amazon's announcement. The company's decision to hold the event in New York City suggests a desire to make a big splash in the tech community.

Industry insiders are watching the development of Alexa's AI capabilities closely, as it has the potential to significantly shift the landscape of voice assistants. With Amazon's vast resources and expertise in AI, the company is well-positioned to make a major impact in this space. As the technology continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how Alexa's new features are received by users and how they shape the future of voice assistants.

Stay tuned for further updates and analysis from the event, as The Verge continues to provide live coverage of Amazon's big Alexa announcement.