Amazon's decision raises privacy concerns, as the company has a history of mishandling user data. In 2023, Amazon paid $25 million to the FTC over allegations of improper access to children's voice data. The company has used Alexa recordings to train its AI, and it's unclear if this will continue with Alexa+. Unlike competitors like Apple, Amazon has made fewer efforts to ensure user data protection, leading to potential privacy issues with the new Alexa+ service.
Key takeaways:
- Amazon is discontinuing the "Do Not Send Voice Recordings" setting for Alexa, meaning all voice recordings will be processed in the cloud and then deleted after processing.
- Alexa+ will introduce new features like ordering groceries, setting smart home routines, and identifying users through Voice ID, but requires users to share their voice data with Amazon.
- Amazon's privacy practices have been criticized, with past incidents of employees accessing user data and a $25 million settlement with the FTC over privacy violations involving children's data.
- Unlike competitors like Apple, Amazon has not made significant efforts to assure users of data protection, raising concerns about privacy with the new Alexa+ features.