Update on Amazon Echo Models

As of March 28, a significant change has been implemented for Amazon Echo models that were previously capable of processing Alexa requests locally. These models will no longer process requests locally; instead, they will send voice recordings to the cloud for processing. This change was confirmed by an Amazon spokesperson in a statement to The Verge, following a post on Reddit where a user shared an email received from Amazon regarding this update. The affected devices include the Echo Dot (4th Gen), Echo Show 10, and Echo Show 15.

Impact on User Settings

For users who had enabled the ‘Do Not Send Voice Recordings’ option, the settings will automatically switch to ‘Don’t save recordings’ as per the email shared on Reddit. This change implies that starting March 28th, voice recordings will be sent to the cloud for processing and then deleted afterward. Additionally, any previously saved voice recordings will also be deleted. This move follows closely after Amazon introduced Alexa+, which integrates generative AI into the assistant, aiming to enhance its conversational capabilities.

Reasoning Behind the Change

Amazon’s decision to discontinue local processing of voice recordings is tied to its expansion of Alexa’s capabilities, particularly with the introduction of generative AI features. These features require the processing power of Amazon’s secure cloud. As stated in the email to customers, "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." This shift underscores Amazon’s focus on leveraging cloud computing to enhance the functionality and intelligence of its digital assistant, Alexa.