- Alexa+ integrates conversational AI into Ring video doorbells to talk to visitors, delivery people, and salespeople.
- The Alexa+ Greetings feature uses video descriptions to interpret clothing, objects, and actions, without identifying faces.
- It allows you to manage deliveries, reject door-to-door salespeople, and collect messages from friends or family.
- For now, it is being rolled out in early access in the United States and Canada, with specific hardware and subscription requirements.
La Alexa+ arrives in smart doorbells Ring This marks another step in the automation of the connected home. The new feature, dubbed Alexa+ Greetings or simply "Greetings", turns the A video intercom is an assistant that speaks to whoever is at the door.It interprets what is happening and responds accordingly, even when no one is home.
Although the The initial deployment focuses on United States and CanadaAmazon's move points to a future in which this type of Conversational AI in portals and neighborhood portals It could also extend to Europe and Spainespecially in communities where home deliveries and unexpected visits have skyrocketed in recent years.
What is Alexa+ and how does it transform Ring doorbells?
Alexa+ is the enhanced version of Amazon's assistant that incorporates generative AI models and natural conversationIntegrated into Ring doorbells, this system is capable of Maintain fluid dialogues with delivery drivers, visitors, and sales staffadapting to what it sees and hears at every moment.
Instead of simply playing a pre-recorded message, the function Alexa+ Greetings analyzes the scene captured by the camera in real time.The system takes into account the person's clothing, the items they are carrying (such as packages or folders), and their actions in front of the door. With this information, plus any instructions the user has configured, the system decides what to say and how to manage the visit.
Amazon claims that the system combines Conversational AI with Ring video descriptions, a technology that was already being used to generate short text summaries of what happens in front of the doorbell, without needing to play each video clip.
The idea is for the doorbell to evolve from a simple notification system into something more. a “virtual gatekeeper” that filters, manages, and summarizes what happens at the entranceThis could be especially useful in single-family homes, villas, or communities with multiple daily deliveries.
Main functions: this is how Alexa+ responds to someone who rings the doorbell
Alexa+'s new feature focuses on resolving very specific everyday situations. The most obvious one has to do with... home package deliveries, a scenario that has become almost routine in Europe with the rise of e-commerce.
When the AI detects that the person in front of the door is wearing a delivery uniform or holding a packageYou can follow the instructions provided by the owner: for example, ask that the package be left in the back door, on a bench that's not very visible, or behind a shedIf the delivery requires a signature, the system can ask the delivery person when they might return and save that information for the user.
Another key feature is the management of Sales visits and door-to-door salespeopleThe owner can configure messages like “Thank you, but we're not interested."so that Alexa can politely (or more forcefully, if chosen) reject sales proposals, unsolicited services, or promotional campaigns."
In the case of friends, family, or other acquaintancesThe assistant can offer a friendly greeting, explain that the homeowner cannot answer at that moment, and suggest that they leave a voice message that will be recorded in the Ring application along with the video of the visit.
All these exchanges are recorded in the app, so the user can Check later who has passed through the door, what has happened, and what has been saidThis provides context and can prevent misunderstandings with failed deliveries or visits that didn't find anyone.
How Alexa+ decides who is at the door and what to say
To determine how to respond, Alexa+ AI relies on the Ring Video Descriptionsa system that was already in use computer vision to create brief descriptions of the sceneInstead of identifying specific individuals, the system focuses on general visual patterns: type of clothing, objects in hand, posture and movement.
With this data, Alexa+ develops a basic hypothesis: “possible delivery person”, “likely salesperson”, “visit without a package, informal appearance”… From there it combines that interpretation with the previous user configuration and what the person says on the other side of the doorbell to respond in context.
Amazon emphasizes that the "Greetings" system It does not use facial recognition to identify specific individuals.For that purpose, there is another separate function called "Familiar Faces," which allows you to tag up to 50 familiar faces, but it remains controversial in terms of privacy and is not part of the core Alexa+ Greetings.
In practice, this means that AI "interprets" scenes without labeling anyone by nameHowever, the company itself acknowledges that there is room for error: for example, a friend who works in logistics and arrives in uniform could be treated as if he were just another delivery driver, with responses that don't match the real situation.
Beyond these specific shortcomings, the integration between video description and conversational AI sets a precedent for how they could evolve. Smart intercoms in European residential buildings, where it is already common to find cameras in building entrances and community access points.
Personalization, automation, and control from the app
One of the system's strengths is the level of message customization and operating rulesThe user can activate Alexa+ Greetings from within the Ring app itself, in the section of “AI Features” or “AI Functions”, and from there adjust the assistant's behavior.
Instructions can be set from any device with Alexa built-in, such as Echo speakers, Fire TV televisions, or the Alexa app on your mobile phone. Simply verbally indicate what you want the assistant to say: for example, “If delivery drivers come on the weekend, tell them to leave the package at the back door."
Amazon also offers preconfigured templates For common scenarios, such as hiding packages in plain sight, setting specific rules for holidays, or defining more formal or more relaxed messages depending on the type of visit that is frequently expected.
At any time, the owner can check what they have configured by asking things like “What are my greeting instructions?" either "What are you going to say to my visitors at the door?”, so it always maintains a a sense of control over what AI does on their behalf.
Added to all this is the platform's ability to group similar alertsIf the same event—such as the gardener working or children playing in the entrance—generates many detections in succession, the system can condense them into a single notification to prevent the mobile phone from constantly vibrating.
Privacy, limitations and possible implications in Europe
The deployment of a Conversational AI that observes, analyzes, and responds at your front door It brings the privacy debate back to the forefront, especially in regions like the European Union, where the regulatory framework is stricter than in other markets.
Amazon maintains that Alexa+ Greetings is designed to Do not reveal if there is anyone inside the home And to keep doorbell interactions separate from the controls of other connected devices. In other words, what is said at the door shouldn't affect interior lights, locks, or cameras—something important from a security perspective.
The fact that "Greetings" relies on generic descriptions instead of identifying specific faces It also aims to reduce the impact on the privacy of neighbors, delivery drivers, or occasional visitors. However, the presence of parallel features like "Family Faces," which do allow for the creation of face catalogs, fuels the public debate about the use of home video surveillance systems with facial recognition capabilities.
With a view to possible adoption in Spain or other European countries, the combination of Cameras in public streets or common areas and advanced AI analysis It could require impact assessments and special care in how neighbors and visitors are informed that they are being recorded and attended to by an automated assistant.
Although the feature is currently launching in English and in a limited number of markets, the growing interest in solutions for smart home with greater autonomy It suggests that this type of tool could eventually reach more regions, provided they comply with data protection regulations and respect the limits set by regulatory bodies.
Availability, requirements and competitive context
Alexa+ Greetings is initially being rolled out to users of Alexa+ Early Access in the United States and Canada, and for now It is only available in EnglishTo use it, you need a compatible doorbell, such as Ring Wired Doorbell Pro (3rd generation) or Ring Wired Doorbell Plus (2nd generation)to have a subscription plan Ring Premium active and activate the video descriptions in the settings.
This update adds to other recent Ring advancements, such as grouped notifications and event analysis tools, and reinforces Amazon's commitment to a cohesive connected home ecosystem where Alexa, Ring, and other devices from the brand work together.
At a strategic level, Alexa+ presents itself as the Amazon's response to other AI-powered assistants, as ChatGPT or GeminiBut applied in a very specific way to the home environment. The front door becomes one of the first spaces where the company demonstrates how its AI can act autonomously and contextually.
For the European and Spanish markets, the adoption of these types of functions will depend on both the demand for advanced automation solutions as well as Amazon's ability to adapt the product to different languages, legal frameworks, and local privacy sensitivities.
The integration of Alexa+ with Ring doorbells paints a picture in which The entrance door becomes a smart interaction pointcapable of managing deliveries, filtering unwanted visits and providing a more comfortable experience for family and friends, always with the added challenge of maintaining a reasonable balance between convenience, security and respect for personal data.
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