Alexa 'killed my fish': Tales from Amazon employee beta testers

An alarming message from an employee involved in the beta testing of Amazon's long-awaited Alexa+ has surfaced, recounting a troubling incident. The software engineer detailed how the voice assistant misinterpreted a command to turn off the lights, resulting in the power strip connected to their aquarium being switched off, ultimately leading to the death of their fish. This incident is just one of many complaints from testers who reported erratic behavior from the assistant. Some users noted that Alexa would ignore repeated requests for silence and played music at full volume when no one was around. "The behavior has become unbearably erratic," lamented one employee, who had hoped to merely test new features rather than deal with unexpected chaos. These frustrations highlight the ongoing challenges Amazon faces in rolling out Alexa+, a revamped version of its voice assistant plagued by delays and technical issues over the years. Although Alexa+ was made publicly available earlier this year, access is still restricted to users who request it or own newer devices. The beta testing channel, which included over 6,400 Amazon employees in October, has been a platform for testers to express their candid feedback on the new features of Alexa+. These include a more conversational speech mode and a browser-based version of the AI assistant, which was introduced to the public in December. However, many testers reported significant breakdowns in routine tasks, transforming what was intended to be a smarter assistant into a source of ongoing frustration. An Amazon spokesperson reassured that the feedback from the beta testing phase represents a version of Alexa+ that may differ from what is available to the general public, emphasizing that the majority of users have had positive experiences. They acknowledged that internal beta testing is standard practice for tech companies, aimed at identifying and correcting bugs before wider distribution. Despite the setbacks noted by employees, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy expressed optimism about Alexa+. During an analyst call, he shared that users of the new assistant tend to engage in longer interactions and explore a broader range of topics compared to the previous version. While Alexa+ is offered for free to Prime subscribers, non-Prime users are required to pay a monthly fee of $19.99. Some employees, however, questioned whether the improvements justified the subscription cost. Concerns regarding Alexa+'s responsiveness were also prevalent among testers. Reports indicated that the assistant sometimes failed to react to voice commands, lost its Wi-Fi connection, or became unresponsive, with some users waiting up to five minutes for a reply. A few employees even expressed a desire to withdraw from the beta testing, citing frustrations with their devices, including the Alexa app, becoming altogether unresponsive. Music playback was highlighted as a persistent issue, with one employee expressing dismay that as of late 2025, Alexa+ still struggled with basic requests like playing specific songs. Another tester shared a disconcerting experience where their device began playing music at 3 a.m., prompting them to unplug it altogether. These challenges illustrate the significant hurdles Amazon must overcome as it seeks to refine the Alexa+ experience for its users.