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Amazon to End Local Alexa Voice Processing, Raising Privacy Concerns

Starting March 28, Alexa voice recordings will be processed exclusively in the cloud as Amazon integrates generative AI features into its assistant.

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"Echo Dots" are pictured at Amazon Headquarters on September 20, 2018 in Seattle, Washington.
© Photo: Kyle Barr / Gizmodo
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Overview

  • Amazon will discontinue the 'Do Not Send Voice Recordings' feature on Alexa devices, forcing all voice requests to be processed in the cloud.
  • The change is linked to the upcoming rollout of Alexa+, an AI-enhanced assistant with features like personalized responses and multi-app integration.
  • Voice recordings will be deleted after processing, but privacy advocates have raised concerns given Amazon's history of data handling controversies.
  • Users who previously relied on local processing for privacy will lose access to features like Voice ID unless they allow cloud-based processing.
  • Amazon has assured users that voice data sent to the cloud will be encrypted and not saved, but skepticism remains due to past regulatory fines over privacy violations.