Amazon is stopping the option for Echo users to not send their voice recordings to the cloud.
Amazon is stopping the option for Echo users to not send voice recordings to the cloud.
The “Do not send voice recordings” feature will be retired on Friday, March 28.
This is to allow the company to grow its artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot Alexa’s “capabilities with generative AI features that rely on the processing power of Amazon’s secure cloud”.
According to The Verge, an email sent out by the company read: “The Alexa feature ‘Do Not Send Voice Recordings’ that you enabled on your supported Echo device(s) will no longer be available beginning March 28, 2025.
“This feature allowed compatible Echo devices to process the audio of Alexa requests locally on device.
“As we continue to expand Alexa’s capabilities with generative AI features that rely on the processing power of Amazon’s secure cloud, we have decided to no longer support this feature.”
If users do not take action before the deadline, their voice recordings will be sent to and processed in the cloud.
They will only be deleted once Alexa has finished processing users’ requests.
The email added: “Any previously saved voice recordings will also be deleted.
“If your voice recordings setting is updated to ‘Don’t save recordings’, voice ID will not work, and you will not be able to create a voice ID for individual users to access more personalised features.”
Reinforcing the point that Alexa’s design of protecting customers’ privacy and keeping their data secure will not be changing, spokesperson Lauren Raemhild told the outlet: “We’re focusing on the privacy tools and controls that our customers use most and work well with generative AI experiences that rely on the processing power of Amazon’s secure cloud.
“Customers can continue to choose from a robust set of tools and controls, including the option to not save their voice recordings at all.
“We’ll continue learning from customer feedback and building privacy features on their behalf.”
Amazon Echo voice notes to be sent to tech firm
