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Amazon is set to discontinue local processing of voice requests for Echo users, informing them that this change will take effect starting March 28. The Seattle-based company plans to shift entirely to cloud-based processing with its upcoming AI-enhanced version of the virtual assistant, known as Alexa+. Users who opt to retain local processing settings will lose access to Alexa’s Voice ID feature, which personalizes interactions based on individual user profiles.
Amazon Reportedly Ending Local Voice Processing for Echo Users
This transition comes after Amazon introduced on-device voice request processing in 2021, a move aimed at enhancing user privacy by allowing individuals to opt out of having their interactions stored by Amazon. However, the company is now reversing this policy.
Update: Amazon has emphasized that essential functions, such as wake word detection and visual ID, will continue to be supported on-device. The company also indicated that the ‘Do Not Send Voice Recordings’ feature was limited to specific Echo models—namely, the Echo Dot (4th Gen), Echo Show 10, and Echo Show 15—and had a very low usage rate among customers. Following the change on March 28, Amazon’s updated privacy settings will automatically delete voice recordings after processing them in the cloud.
In a report by Ars Technica, it was revealed that Amazon communicated this decision via email to users who had activated the “Do Not Send Voice Recordings” option, informing them of the discontinuation of local processing capabilities.
According to the email, “As we continue to expand Alexa’s capabilities with generative AI features that rely on the processing power of Amazon’s secure cloud, we have decided to no longer support this feature.” This aligns with the anticipated rollout of the AI-powered Alexa+.
Users who do not change their settings will not be able to utilize the Voice ID functionality, which plays a critical role in personalizing the user experience by providing tailored information regarding calendars, reminders, music, and more.
The forthcoming Alexa upgrade promises enhanced Voice ID capabilities, including contextual understanding and personalized recommendations. Furthermore, it will improve its ability to differentiate between voices. Despite this, users preferring not to engage with the AI enhancements will still lose access to the legacy Voice ID after the March deadline.
Ars Technica also included excerpts from Amazon’s email, in which the company reassured users that voice requests sent to their cloud servers will always be protected with multiple layers of encryption to ensure data security. Nevertheless, this shift may intensify privacy concerns among Echo users who value local processing features.
In a related context, it is worth noting that in 2023, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a lawsuit against Amazon for allegedly unlawfully gathering and retaining data on children younger than 13 without obtaining parental consent. As reported by TechCrunch, Amazon resolved the lawsuit with a settlement of $25 million, which included a commitment to delete the relevant data.
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