With Alexa+, Amazon is ditching key privacy protections, leaving users’ voice data exposed in the name of AI advancement.
- Amazon is removing the “Do Not Send Voice Recordings” feature, meaning all voice data will now be processed in the cloud, even for users who previously opted out.
- The move is tied to the launch of Alexa+, an AI-enhanced version of Alexa designed to handle more complex tasks, but it raises significant privacy concerns.
- Amazon’s history of mishandling user data, including past scandals involving employee access to recordings, casts doubt on its ability to safeguard sensitive information in the AI era.
In a world where convenience often trumps privacy, Amazon is doubling down on its AI ambitions with Alexa+, a next-generation version of its popular voice assistant. But this leap forward comes at a cost: the erosion of one of the few privacy protections users had against Amazon accessing their voice data. Starting March 28, the “Do Not Send Voice Recordings” setting will be discontinued, and all voice recordings will be processed in the cloud—whether users like it or not.
The End of On-Device Privacy
For years, Amazon offered a semblance of privacy with its “Do Not Send Voice Recordings” feature, which allowed users to process their voice commands locally on devices like the Echo Dot and Echo Show. This meant sensitive data stayed on the device, away from Amazon’s servers. But with the rise of generative AI, Amazon claims it needs access to cloud processing to deliver the advanced capabilities of Alexa+.
In an email to users, Amazon explained that the feature is being phased out to support the “processing power of Amazon’s secure cloud.” While the company insists that recordings will be deleted after processing, the move has sparked outrage among privacy advocates. After all, once your data is in the cloud, it’s out of your hands—and Amazon’s track record with data security leaves much to be desired.
Alexa+: A Double-Edged Sword
Alexa+ promises to revolutionize how we interact with voice assistants. Imagine asking Alexa to order pizza ingredients from multiple apps, set up smart home routines, or even identify who’s speaking using Voice ID. These features sound impressive, but they come with a catch: they require massive amounts of user data to function effectively.
Amazon’s vision for Alexa+ is ambitious. It aims to create a truly conversational AI that learns users’ habits and tailors responses accordingly. But this level of personalization hinges on the collection and analysis of voice data, raising questions about how that data will be used—and who else might have access to it.
A History of Privacy Missteps
Amazon’s decision to nix the “Do Not Send Voice Recordings” feature is particularly troubling given its history of privacy scandals. In 2023, the company paid $25 million to settle Federal Trade Commission allegations that it violated children’s privacy by retaining their voice data and Ring camera footage. Before that, it was revealed that Amazon employees had access to Alexa recordings, some of which included private conversations.
While Amazon claims to have updated its data practices, its actions suggest otherwise. The company has long been obsessed with collecting voice data, even using it to train its AI models. And unlike Apple, which has touted its “private cloud compute” system for anonymizing user data, Amazon has made no such promises.
The Broader Implications
Amazon’s push for Alexa+ reflects a broader trend in the tech industry: the race to dominate the AI space, often at the expense of user privacy. Smaller AI models that run on-device, like those on Windows Copilot+ laptops or Samsung Galaxy phones, are still in their infancy and lack the capabilities of cloud-based systems. Alexa+ aims to bridge that gap, but it does so by centralizing data in the cloud—a move that could make it a prime target for hackers or misuse.
For users, the choice is stark: embrace the convenience of Alexa+ and accept the risks, or opt out entirely. Unfortunately, with the removal of the “Do Not Send Voice Recordings” feature, the latter may be the only way to ensure your voice data stays private.
Convenience vs. Privacy
As Amazon forges ahead with Alexa+, it’s clear that the company is prioritizing innovation over privacy. While the new features may be enticing, they come at a significant cost: the loss of control over your personal data. In an era where data breaches and misuse are all too common, Amazon’s latest move is a stark reminder that convenience often comes at a price.
For now, the ball is in the court of consumers. Will they trade their privacy for the promise of a smarter Alexa? Or will they push back, demanding better protections in the age of AI? One thing is certain: the conversation around privacy and AI is far from over—and Amazon is at the center of it.