Amazon's Next Alexa Project 'Moonraker' Aims for Smarter Multi-Task Abilities

Amazon is quietly developing a more advanced version of its Alexa assistant, according to internal documents obtained by Business Insider. Codenamed 'Moonraker,' the project is designed to handle complex, multi-step requests in a single interaction—like booking a ride and texting a friend at the same time. This would push Alexa beyond its current capabilities, putting it in closer competition with agentic AI systems from Google, Anthropic, and OpenAI.

But the ambition comes with a steep price tag. The documents project GPU costs exceeding $100 million by 2026, and some senior Amazon executives reportedly believe the company has already overspent on AI models powering the existing Alexa+. There's even talk of delaying or scaling back Moonraker's scope. The project is also said to rely on hundreds of NVIDIA GPUs and an Anthropic Sonnet model for advanced reasoning and visual responses.

Meanwhile, Alexa+—which launched nationwide in the US earlier this year and remains in early access in the UK—has had a rocky rollout. Users have reported trouble with basic requests that older versions handled fine. Engadget's Cherlynn Low praised its improved conversation flow but noted it often forgot past interactions when using apps like Uber. Despite these hiccups, Amazon is pushing forward. Recent updates include three new personality styles for Alexa, a 'sassy' foul-mouthed option, and natural language food ordering through GrubHub and Uber Eats.