The decision has raised privacy concerns, as even with local processing, text transcripts of requests were still sent to Amazon's cloud. Amazon's approach to privacy has been questioned in the past, with allegations of using Alexa data for ad targeting and inadequate privacy safeguards in third-party apps. Despite these concerns, Amazon emphasizes its commitment to privacy and the enhanced capabilities of Alexa+ for Prime subscribers or those paying a monthly fee.
Key takeaways:
- Amazon is discontinuing the local processing option for Alexa voice commands on Echo devices, pushing all requests to the cloud starting March 28, 2025.
- The change is driven by the introduction of generative AI features that require cloud processing power, and affects devices like the 4th-gen Echo Dot, Echo Show 10, and Show 15.
- Privacy concerns are raised as Amazon will store text transcripts of voice requests in the cloud, even if audio recordings are not saved.
- Amazon claims the change will not impact user privacy and emphasizes the availability of privacy tools, though some Alexa features will be limited without saving voice recordings.