Amazon's Alexa+ answers Ring doorbells
The device will determine who’s at the door and respond conversationally to visitors.
Amazon is launching Alexa+ Greetings, a feature that lets Ring doorbells decide who is at the door, understand their purpose, and reply on the homeowner’s behalf whether the resident is home, away, or prefers not to be disturbed.
According to the company, Alexa+ Greetings combines Ring Video Descriptions with Alexa's conversational capabilities so the doorbell camera can identify visitors by what they are wearing, holding, or doing and use that visual context, any information the visitor shares, and stored instructions to manage interactions.
Users can enable Alexa+ Greetings in the Ring app under “AI Features” and set personalised instructions through an Alexa-enabled device, the Alexa app, or Echo and Fire TV devices, the company said. The feature includes preset greetings for common scenarios and can relay specific directions for deliveries, handle follow-up questions from drivers, screen sales calls, and offer callers the option to leave a message for the resident.
Alexa captures visitor messages and timestamps them alongside video footage in the Ring app so homeowners can review who came by and why. The company said Alexa's responses are separate from smart home controls, are designed not to reveal home status, and users keep control over when and how Alexa replies.
The company said Alexa+ Greetings is rolling out to Alexa+ Early Access customers today in the U.S. and Canada (English only). It is available on Ring Wired Doorbell Pro (3rd Gen) and Ring Wired Doorbell Plus (2nd Gen) when customers have a Ring Premium Plan and Video Descriptions enabled. For customers in Illinois: Smart Video Search is not available on Ring devices due to specific state legislation.
The Recap
- Alexa+ Greetings lets Ring doorbells respond conversationally to visitors.
- Available on Ring Wired Doorbell Pro 3rd Gen devices.
- Requires Ring Premium Plan and Video Descriptions enabled.
