Amazon is adding a new AI-driven feature to Alexa+ that brings conversational intelligence to Ring doorbells, allowing automated interactions with visitors when homeowners are unavailable. The feature, called Greetings, uses video analysis to assess a visitor’s clothing, behavior, and objects they are carrying, then responds based on predefined user instructions.
The system can identify delivery scenarios and provide guidance on where packages should be left, including directing drivers to snacks or water. If a signature is required, Alexa can ask the delivery person to return later and relay that information to the homeowner. Greetings can also be configured to politely decline sales representatives or service vendors without user involvement.
For personal visits, Alexa can greet friends or family members and request they leave a message. Amazon said the feature relies on Ring’s video descriptions to determine the primary subject in view and does not identify individuals by name.
The rollout follows earlier controversy around Ring’s “Familiar Faces” feature, which labeled frequent visitors using facial recognition. Greetings is compatible with select Ring wired doorbells and is available to Ring Premium subscribers who enable video descriptions. The feature is rolling out to Alexa+ early access users in the U.S. and Canada.
The launch adds to Amazon’s recent consumer-facing AI updates, including the introduction of an AI reading assistant in the Kindle iOS app that allows users to ask contextual questions about a book directly from the page.
