Enhancing Productivity with Amazon’s Send to Alexa Plus for Kindle Scribe

Amazon is set to introduce a new feature called “Send to Alexa Plus” for owners of the latest Kindle Scribe and Kindle Scribe Colorsoft devices starting on February 12. This feature allows users to send their notes and documents to Amazon’s AI-powered Alexa Plus assistant, which can then summarize the information, convert it into to-do lists, calendar events, reminders, and provide assistance with brainstorming and project guidance.

After spending approximately a day testing the feature, primarily to assist with caregiving tasks, I found it to be quite helpful despite some limitations. The feature works best when asked to process information into actionable items. It effectively summarized my handwritten notes and PDF documents, even when they were written in different templates or difficult-to-read text colors. Additionally, it proved to be useful for managing logistics, such as converting notes about appointments into calendar events and reminders with relevant context.

I also evaluated how well Alexa Plus responded to questions about my notes, provided guidance, and assisted with brainstorming. In one instance, while waiting on hold with Medi-Cal, my Echo Show 8 recited important information from a dispute letter I had written earlier. I also sent a PDF of an email and asked Alexa to calculate a list of charges, which it did accurately. Alexa was capable of extracting specific details from my notes, even when they were poorly written. For example, it identified “Blue Shield” as an insurance company without explicit labeling.

On the other hand, the feature struggled with providing in-depth analysis and nuances. When I tested its usefulness for reviewing content, it took multiple attempts to generate a detailed outline. It occasionally overlooked subtle but significant distinctions, resulting in partially correct answers being marked as fully correct.

Despite its imperfections, Send to Alexa Plus proves to be genuinely beneficial and gives Amazon a competitive advantage over competitors like the Kobo Elipsa 2E, which lacks voice assistant integration. While the Elipsa 2E excels in basic functionalities, such as annotating ebooks, the Scribe is becoming a more appealing option for users within Amazon’s ecosystem.

In conclusion, Send to Alexa Plus is a valuable tool that enhances the user experience and streamlines tasks. Its integration with Alexa provides added convenience and efficiency, making it a worthwhile feature for Kindle Scribe owners.