Amazon’s new Alexa+ powered feature can generate podcast episodes

Amazon’s new Alexa+ powered feature can generate podcast episodes Lauren Forristal 7:56 AM PDT · May 18, 2026 Amazon announced the latest update to Alexa+ on Monday: the ability to generate podcast episodes on demand. The new feature, called “Alexa Podcasts,” is rolling out to customers in the U.S. today. Amazon describes the capability as a way to “turn any topic you’re curious about into a podcast episode, ready in minutes.” To use the feature, all users have to do is ask Alexa+ to create a podcast about a topic they’re interested in. Users don’t need to upload documents, write scripts, or plan anything ahead of time. Instead, Alexa+ researches the request, gathers information, and generates a quick overview of what the episode will cover. From there, users can tweak things like the length, tone, and focus of the episode. Once finalized, Alexa+ uses AI-generated host voices to narrate the podcast. When the episode is ready, users get a notification through their Echo Show device and inside the Alexa app. Episodes are also saved in the app’s “Music” and “More” sections so they can be replayed later. The feature is another example of how Amazon is trying to turn Alexa+ into more than just a voice assistant. Instead of only answering questions or controlling smart home devices, Alexa+ is starting to act more like a personalized AI content creator. At the same time, the launch is likely to spark some debate. AI-generated voices and automated content continue to raise questions around ethics, accuracy, and the future of traditional creators. There are also concerns about how reliable AI-generated podcasts will be, especially when covering news or complex topics. Amazon emphasized its partnerships with major news organizations to improve content accuracy and reliability. The company says Alexa+ can access real-time information through agreements with outlets including the Associated Press, Reuters, The Washington Post, Time, Forbes, Business Insider, Politico, USA Today, Condé Nast, Hearst, and Vox Media, alongside more than 200 local newspapers across the U.S. Beyond podcasts, Amazon says it is exploring additional forms of personalized AI audio, including custom news briefings and content generated from users’ own documents and shared information. When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence. Lauren Forristal Lauren covers media, streaming, apps and platforms at TechCrunch. You can contact or verify outreach from Lauren by emailing laurenf.techcrunch@gmail.com or via encrypted message at laurenforris22.25 on Signal. May 27 Athens, Greece StrictlyVC Athens is up next. Hear unfiltered insights straight from Europe’s tech leaders and connect with the people shaping what’s ahead. Lock in your spot before it’s gone. Most Popular Users turn to jailbreaking their older Kindles as Amazon ends support Lauren Forristal OpenAI launches ChatGPT for personal finance, will let you connect bank accounts Ivan Mehta US orders travelers on Air Force One to throw away gifts, pins, and burner phones after China trip Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai OpenAI is reportedly preparing legal action against Apple; it wouldn’t be the first partner to feel burned Connie Loizos How to turn off Instagram’s new Instants feature and retract photos you accidentally shared Aisha Malik Spotify launches a Wrapped-style recap of your entire listening history Ivan Mehta Amazon launches 30-minute delivery across the US Sarah Perez X LinkedIn Facebook Instagram youTube Mastodon Threads Bluesky TechCrunchStaffContact UsAdvertiseCrunchboard JobsSite Map Terms of ServicePrivacy PolicyRSS Terms of UseCode of Conduct AnthropicSAPSamsungMarc LoreTechCrunch DisruptTech LayoffsChatGPT © 2026 TechCrunch Media LLC.