Alexa+ Greetings Transforms Your Ring Doorbell Into a Conversational AI Assistant
Say goodbye to deadbolt peepholes: Amazon’s new Alexa+ “Greetings” feature turns your Ring doorbell into an AI concierge that manages deliveries, screens salespeople, and greets guests when you’re away.
This isn’t just another voice command update. It’s a contextual leap forward. Greetings leverages Ring’s video descriptions—AI-generated summaries of what the camera sees—to determine who is at your door and respond dynamically. It’s aware of uniforms, packages, and actions, allowing your home to interact with the outside world without you lifting a finger.
The Smart Delivery Upgrade
The most immediate benefit is in package management. When a delivery person approaches, the system identifies the uniform and the action of dropping off a package. From there, it executes your pre-set instructions.
You can now direct drivers to specific drop-off zones—perhaps a hidden garden bench or a side porch—keeping valuables out of plain sight. For those offering hospitality, Greetings can even guide drivers to a cool drink or snack left out for them. If a package requires a signature, the AI handles the friction. It asks the driver when they might return and automatically alerts you via the app, turning a missed delivery into a scheduled success.
Context-Aware Guest Interaction
Beyond logistics, Greetings acts as a digital buffer for unsolicited visitors. You can program the AI to handle sales representatives or service vendors with specific scripts. Instead of awkwardly ignoring the doorbell or shouting through the glass, your Ring can politely inform them, “We aren’t interested, thank you,” maintaining your privacy without confrontation.
For invited guests arriving when you aren’t home, the feature pivots to a friendly concierge. It can greet friends or family by name and prompt them to leave a voice message, which is then recorded and sent to you. It’s an intelligent way to keep personal connections open, even when your schedule is closed.
The Risks of Contextual AI
As with any behavioral recognition tech, context is king—and a potential pitfall. The system identifies based on visual cues like uniform types and held items, not facial recognition. This means if your friend works in logistics and arrives wearing a delivery uniform after work, Greetings might mistakenly instruct them to leave a package rather than leave a message.
Amazon’s “Familiar Faces” feature (which catalogs up to 50 people) exists alongside this, but Greetings relies on “video descriptions” of actions and attire. It decides what to say based on what it sees, not necessarily who it sees. Users should calibrate their instructions with these limitations in mind to avoid confusing (or amusing) mishaps.
Availability and Requirements
The Greetings feature is rolling out to Alexa+ Early Access customers in the U.S. and Canada. To utilize it, you need a Ring Premium Plan with video descriptions enabled and a compatible device. Currently, supported hardware includes the Ring Wired Doorbell Pro (3rd Gen) and the Ring Wired Doorbell Plus (2nd Gen).
The Verdict
Alexa+ Greetings represents a significant shift toward ambient, autonomous home management. By bridging the gap between video analytics and conversational AI, Amazon is turning the Ring doorbell from a passive surveillance tool into an active participant in your household logistics. For busy professionals, frequent travelers, or anyone seeking to minimize door-to-door intrusions, this update offers a smarter, more responsive gatekeeper for your front door.
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