Starting March 28, Amazon Echo devices will no longer have the option to process voice requests locally, meaning all user interactions will be sent to Amazon’s servers. This change has sparked concern among users about privacy.
The company notified customers of the change via email, stating, “We are reaching out to let you know that the Alexa feature ‘Do Not Send Voice Recordings’ that you enabled on your supported Echo device(s) will no longer be available beginning March 28, 2025.” The email further explained that this change is due to the expansion of Alexa’s capabilities with generative AI features, which rely on the processing power of Amazon’s secure cloud.
Additionally, users who utilize the “Don’t save recordings” feature will also lose access to Voice ID, which grants Alexa the ability to share user-specific information like calendar events and music preferences. To retain this functionality, users will need to manually adjust their settings. Therefore, all voice interactions with Echo devices after March 28 will be transmitted to Amazon’s cloud.
Amazon attempted to address security concerns in the email, assuring users that “Alexa voice requests are always encrypted in transit to Amazon’s secure cloud, which was designed with layers of security protections to keep customer information safe.” However, once the data reaches Amazon’s servers, it will be utilized by the company and its employees.
The announcement has garnered significant criticism, with many Alexa users expressing their dissatisfaction on Reddit over the weekend.
This news coincides with Amazon’s recent announcement of Alexa+, a subscription service incorporating AI enhancements. The retail giant delayed the release of Alexa+ due to a setback, but it now appears on track to launch the service this year. Amazon claims Alexa+ will provide a more seamless, context-aware experience and will be compatible with other Alexa-enabled devices like Ring video doorbells.
