Amazon’s upcoming AI update to its Alexa voice assistant, called Alexa+, may have some loosening privacy restrictions.
Starting March 28, Echo device users will have to allow Amazon to record and process their voice commands in the cloud—or lose access to some features, according to an email sent to customers, reports ArsTechnica.
Currently, some Echo users can prevent Amazon from storing their voice recordings by selecting the “Do Not Send Voice Recordings” option. However, Amazon has announced that this option is going away. All voice interactions with Alexa will be automatically sent to Amazon’s servers for processing.
The company says this change is necessary to improve Alexa’s AI features, like the new Alexa Voice ID, which helps Alexa recognize who is speaking. However, this move removes a key privacy feature, even for users who don’t want the subscription-based Alexa+ or don’t care about voice recognition.
Amazon argues that recordings will be deleted after processing by default. But for users who choose not to save their recordings at all, the Voice ID feature will no longer work. This means Alexa won’t be able to provide personalized responses for things like calendar reminders or music suggestions.
The company insists that voice requests are encrypted and that users can manage their privacy settings through the Alexa app. But the message is clear: if you want to keep using Alexa’s advanced features, you’ll need to let Amazon store and process your voice recordings.
Alexa+ will first launch in the U.S., but will will eventually expand to other countries including Canada.
An Amazon spokesperson has clarified that the “Do Not Send Voice Recordings” feature was an opt-in option only available in the U.S. for select devices like the Echo Dot (4th Gen), Echo Show 10, and Echo Show 15, with devices set to English. The feature was never available in Canada or on all Echo devices.
This feature will be discontinued after March 28, 2025. After that date, Amazon will automatically update privacy settings for affected users to not save voice recordings unless users manually change their settings.
When the “Do Not Save Voice Recordings” setting is enabled, any recordings will be deleted after Alexa processes a request, and previously saved recordings will also be erased. However, this will disable Voice ID, meaning users won’t be able to set up or use personalized voice features.
Amazon emphasized that Voice ID is not a new feature—it has been available for several years. The company also noted that a very small number of users currently use the “Do Not Send Voice Recordings” option.
“The Alexa experience is designed to protect our customers’ privacy and keep their data secure, and that’s not changing. We’re focusing on the privacy tools and controls that our customers use most and work well with generative AI experiences that rely on the processing power of Amazon’s secure cloud,” said the Amazon spokesperson to iPhone in Canada. “Customers can continue to choose from a robust set of tools and controls, including the option to not save their voice recordings at all. We’ll continue learning from customer feedback, and building privacy features on their behalf,” added the Amazon spokesperson.
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Spyware companies and those building the surveillance economy are gross.