Starting March 28, 2025, Amazon Echo owners will no longer have the option for local processing of requests, a feature designed to keep user information off of Amazon’s servers.
The company informed customers of this change through emails detailing the removal of the Alexa feature ‘Do Not Send Voice Recordings.’ This decision aligns with Amazon’s push to enhance Alexa’s capabilities using generative AI that relies on their secure cloud infrastructure.
Moreover, users who previously opted for the “Don’t save recordings” feature will also be impacted, losing access to Voice ID. This feature allows Alexa to deliver personalized responses, such as calendar events and music suggestions. To maintain this functionality, users will need to manually adjust their settings.
Starting March 28, all voice commands given to Echo devices will be transmitted to Amazon’s cloud, limiting user control over their recordings. While users can request deletion of their recordings, doing so will result in the loss of certain features originally available upon purchase.
In an effort to address security concerns, Amazon reassured users that “Alexa voice requests are always encrypted in transit to Amazon’s secure cloud, designed with multiple layers of security protections to safeguard customer information.” However, it remains unclear how the transmitted data will be utilized once in Amazon’s possession.
The announcement has sparked significant backlash, with numerous users expressing their dissatisfaction on various forums over the weekend. This news arrives shortly after Amazon’s announcement of a new subscription service aimed at enhancing Alexa through AI enhancements. Despite previous setbacks in releasing this service, it is expected to launch later this year. Amazon claims that this improved service will provide a more seamless and context-aware experience across Alexa-enabled devices.
