Alexa+ is getting a new “adults only” character option that curses but won’t display NSFW content

Amazon’s Alexa+ AI assistant is getting another new personality. The company announced Thursday that it is expanding the lineup of character styles for users to choose from to include an adults-only “Sassy” option. Amazon notes that before choosing to use the Sassy persona, users will be required to perform additional security checks in the Alexa app.

Amazon says character mode will also not be available when Amazon Kids is enabled.

The new option joins other options such as “Brief,” “Chill,” and “Sweet,” which were launched last month.

When you toggle the Sassy option in the Alexa mobile app, you are warned that the Sassy mode uses explicit language, which is why it requires a security check. On iOS, this involved a Face ID scan.

The AI ​​assistant explained his approach to us like this: “The Sassy Method is based on one premise: help first, judgment always. Each answer comes wrapped in wit and suspense in a good place – it will answer your question; it will make you feel something about it first. Expect reality checks to be delivered with charm, compliments that are somehow snarky, and warmth you didn’t see coming. Equal opportunity, no apologies. Honest, sharp, and funny – and somehow that’s more helpful than helpful.”

The Alexa app also warned that the style may contain “mature subject matter.”

However, further investigation discovered that this is not Amazon’s version of something like Grok’s adult AI companions. The AI ​​Assistant said that the new option will not go into areas such as explicit sexual content, hate speech, illegal activities, personal attacks, or anything that may cause harm to oneself or others.

The move is the latest example of how Amazon is trying to make Alexa+ more customizable, as it revamps the assistant for the age of generative AI. By offering different personas for the Assistant — including an adult — Amazon is borrowing from a broader trend in artificial intelligence, in which companies are experimenting with tone, style and personalities to make their assistants more engaging and personalized to individual users’ choices.