In light of Amazon’s impending AI enhancement for its Alexa voice assistant dubbed Alexa Plus, the company has made a concerning announcement regarding its privacy policy: Effective March 28, users of Echo smart speakers and Echo Show smart displays will lose the option to prevent their voice command recordings from being sent to Amazon.
The ability to keep voice recordings stored locally is a crucial privacy feature for voice assistants, and this change raises significant concerns about Amazon’s listening practices. Moreover, a CNET survey indicated that over 70% of individuals have privacy issues related to integrating more AI into home voice assistants, reflecting a growing unease regarding privacy in voice technology.
Understanding Amazon’s new direction is essential for current Alexa users in your home. Let’s address some key points about these changes.
What Do the Updated Alexa Voice Recording Settings Entail?
Amazon’s announcement pertains to two particular Alexa privacy options: “Do not send voice recordings” and “Do not save voice recordings,” which are buried within the settings of the Alexa app and Echo devices.
Beginning March 28, the “Do not send voice recordings” option will be eliminated, leading to all recorded commands being automatically forwarded to Amazon for analysis. Additionally, modifications will be made to the “Do not save voice recordings” setting, which may limit some features of Alexa if recordings are not saved locally.
Will Amazon Listen to Everything I Tell Alexa?
After activating Alexa with its wake word, any recordings will be sent to Amazon’s cloud for processing. According to the company, this data is necessary for training Alexa Plus to improve conversation quality and comprehension, which has long been a goal for leveraging voice data. The crucial point here is that users will no longer have a choice in this matter.
Will Other Alexa Privacy Settings Be Impacted?
The changes specifically impact the “Do not send voice recordings” and “Do not save voice recordings” settings. Other privacy settings, such as Alexa skill permissions, remain unaffected and will persist beyond the March deadline.
Why is Amazon Implementing This Change?
The move primarily supports the launch of Alexa Plus, Amazon’s forthcoming conversational AI upgrade, which aims to enhance its revenue streams and attract new customers. A statement from Amazon clarified that the decision stems from the need to expand Alexa’s functionalities with generative AI features that rely heavily on cloud processing.
Can I Maintain Voice Recording Privacy Without Using Alexa Plus?
According to Amazon, all Echo users will have their voice recordings transmitted to the company regardless of whether they intend to use Alexa Plus. This change likely activates other services like Live Translations and Adaptive Listening, which were previously disabled by that privacy setting.
