Amazon is introducing a new “Send to Alexa Plus” feature for owners of the latest Kindle Scribe and Kindle Scribe Colorsoft devices, starting February 12. This functionality allows users to forward notes or documents to the AI-driven Alexa Plus assistant. The assistant can then generate summaries, create to-do lists, schedule calendar events or reminders, assist with brainstorming, and provide project guidance.
Initial testing focused on caregiving tasks revealed the feature to be largely beneficial, despite certain limitations. Its effectiveness is highest when processing information into actionable items. The system accurately summarized handwritten notes and PDF documents, even those with varied templates or challenging text colors. It also proved useful for logistical tasks, such as converting appointment notes into calendar events and reminders with relevant details.
Further evaluations assessed its ability to answer questions about notes and documents, offer guidance, and facilitate brainstorming. During a lengthy phone call, an Echo Show 8 successfully read back crucial information from a previously written dispute letter. A PDF of an email containing a list of charges was sent, and the system correctly calculated the total. The feature also demonstrated proficiency in extracting specific details; for instance, it identified “Blue Shield” as an insurance company from context, despite messy handwriting and no explicit label.
Another scenario involved creating appointment notes for another person, deliberately omitting details like the address. After sharing the note with Alexa, a query about missing information prompted Alexa to suggest including the address, doctor’s name, medication list, and questions to ask. The assistant also produced a reasonable draft for a phone script to dispute an insurance claim. However, Alexa could not directly apply these suggested changes to the original Scribe note, nor could the full draft be sent via email. The draft was accessible within the Alexa app’s “chat history” section.
The feature demonstrated limitations concerning depth and nuance. When attempting to use it for self-quizzing on an article, such as a previous Kindle Scribe review, it required multiple attempts (four or five) to produce a detailed outline. Minor but significant distinctions were occasionally overlooked, for example, misinterpreting “AI-powered summarization feature” as simply “AI-powered feature.” This led to instances where partially correct answers were marked as fully accurate.
While Send to Alexa Plus is not without its flaws, its overall utility is significant, providing Amazon a competitive advantage over devices such as the Kobo Elipsa 2E, which lacks voice assistant integration. Although the Elipsa 2E remains a preferred choice for its superior handling of fundamental tasks, particularly ebook annotation, the Scribe becomes a more compelling recommendation for individuals within the Amazon ecosystem.
