Can’t find the promised AI features on your new Kindle Scribe? This is why
- The 2024 Kindle Scribe was released in major markets on December 5
- The biggest selling point: AI features for handwritten notes at launch
- Unfortunately, this headline act is not available to all users
About a month after the cheaper 2024 Kindles went on sale, the new Kindle Scribe was finally released for purchase on December 5. The headline act: AI features that, according to our Amazon Kindle Scribe (2024) review, are actually useful.
While Amazon has promised that these AI features will roll out to the older Kindle Scribe (2022) sometime in “early 2025,” the new model – especially in the Metallic Jade colorway – is shaping up to be an attractive option for early adopters in need. of a great writing e-paper tablet.
The 2024 Scribe is now on sale in most major markets, but there’s one glaring omission if you’re making your purchase outside the US.
Internationalization is important to us, but we have nothing to share today.
Amazon spokesperson
For example, if you’re in the UK or Australia and just bought your new Kindle Scribe, you might be wondering where the AI features come from. It turns out they’re only available to US customers and Amazon currently has no plans to roll them out globally.
I reached out for a reason and was disappointed to be told, “we have nothing to share today”.
There are two AI features that should be present on the 2024 Kindle Scribe at launch: note summarization and handwriting recognition. Both can be accessed via a small star-like icon in the top right corner of a notebook’s menu bar (pictured below).
I got my 2024 Kindle Scribe on release day and then spent the day wondering why I couldn’t access the AI features. Amazon made no mention to the media – at least in Australia, where I live – that there were any restrictions. I was so looking forward to trying it out, but unfortunately it was a no-go.
However, it took me a while, but a little online searching led me to a solution that allowed me to install the AI features on the new Kindle Scribe.
Install Kindle Scribe AI features
If you live outside the US and want the promised AI features on your brand new Kindle Scribe, you can still install them. Just log into the desktop version of your local Amazon site (in my case, for example, it’s Amazon AU) and then hover over Account and lists and choose Manage your content and devices from the drop-down menu to access the preferences for your already set up Kindle(s).
Go directly to the Preferences option on this page and below Country/region settingsclick Change your country/region (see image below).
You’ll need an Amazon US account, plus a valid US address and phone number. Since Amazon only arrived in Australia (my home country) in December 2017, I already had an Amazon US account, so I didn’t have to start from scratch. Additionally, an immediate family member living in the US allowed me to use their contact information for this purpose.
It’s important to note that you absolutely don’t need to change your payment method here. So you’ll only be charged for the content you purchase from the Kindle Store. However, you will be charged in USD instead of your local currency.
Anyway, once you’ve saved the new address, just restart your Kindle Scribe and voila, the AI icon will appear on your notebooks. You can then use the AI summary feature or convert your handwriting into text.
In my case, I had to restart the Kindle Scribe (2024) twice before I could see the AI icon in the Notebooks app, but keep in mind that if you change the data for your Kindle (content and device), you loses access again.
There’s no harm in leaving a US address associated with your Kindle account, but like I said, your Kindle purchases (not your regular Amazon purchases) will be charged in USD. If that doesn’t appeal to you, you can revert to your original configuration, but again, you’ll lose the AI features until Amazon decides to roll it out globally.
What I find quite ironic is that the AI summary (pictured above) actually uses British spelling instead of American. Go figure.