Amazon Set To Replace Echo Model Requests With Alexa+ Voice Assistant

Starting March 28, certain Amazon Echo models that previously processed Alexa requests locally will now send voice recordings to the cloud instead. An Amazon spokesperson confirmed the change to The Verge after a Reddit user posted a PSA on Friday, sharing a screenshot of an email from Amazon about the update.

Changes to Voice Recording Settings

According to the email shared on Reddit, Echo users who had previously enabled the ‘Do Not Send Voice Recordings’ setting will see it automatically updated to ‘Don’t Save Recordings’ instead.

The email explains:

“This means that, starting on March 28th, your voice recordings will be sent to and processed in the cloud, and they will be deleted after Alexa processes your requests. Any previously saved voice recordings will also be deleted.”

Connection to Alexa+

This change follows Amazon’s introduction of Alexa+, a new version of the voice assistant that incorporates generative AI. During its February unveiling event, Amazon announced that Alexa+ would begin rolling out in early access this month.

Amazon clarified its reasoning for the change 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.”

With Alexa+ requiring more cloud-based processing power, Amazon appears to be shifting away from local voice request processing in favor of cloud-based AI enhancements.