Amazon Echo to End Local Processing Option: What It Means for Users
Starting March 28, 2025, Amazon Echo users will no longer have the option to process requests locally on their devices, a feature that kept voice recordings off Amazon’s servers. Instead, all voice interactions will be sent to Amazon’s cloud for processing.
The company notified Echo customers in an email explaining the upcoming change, highlighting that the feature, “Do Not Send Voice Recordings,” will no longer be supported. Amazon stated that the decision was made as part of an effort to expand Alexa’s capabilities, now enhanced with generative AI, which relies on the power of Amazon’s secure cloud.
The email further clarified that starting March 28, voice recordings will be sent to the cloud but will be deleted after Alexa processes the request. However, users who have set their Echo to delete recordings will lose access to certain features, including Voice ID, which allows personalized experiences, such as sharing reminders and music preferences.
While this change applies Processing:
only to Echo devices such as the Echo Dot (4th Gen), Echo Show 10, and Echo Show 15, it marks a significant shift in how Amazon handles privacy for Echo users. The feature was previously an opt-in choice and was only used by a small fraction of customers, less than 0.03%, according to Amazon.
Many users, especially those concerned with privacy, have expressed dissatisfaction with the move, particularly in online forums like Reddit. Some voiced frustrations about losing essential functionality and the impact on accessibility, particularly for blind users who rely heavily on voice control for various tasks Processing .
Amazon maintains that the move is in line with their focus on privacy and secure data handling while enhancing AI-driven capabilities. The company emphasizes that customers will still have control over their data, including the option to prevent their voice recordings from being saved.
