Amazon is about to eliminate local processing for voice commands on its devices.
For owners of Echo smart speakers, a significant privacy feature will soon be lost as all voice command processing shifts from the device itself to the cloud.
According to Ars Technica, this transition will mark the introduction of a new Alexa+ feature known as Amazon Voice ID. This innovation enables Echo systems to identify individual users and will be accessible across all existing Echo models. Consequently, distinct users can manage their personal calendars, music playlists, and reminders independently.
In comparison, Apple has enabled Siri-compatible devices to recognize multiple users since 2019. However, it wasn’t until after 2021 that Siri could handle most requests without connecting to Apple’s servers first for data processing.
With the launch of iOS 15, Apple provided offline capabilities through machine learning technology allowing users to set alarms, open applications, control media playback and adjust system settings without needing internet access.
Connectivity Limitations
Despite these advancements in offline functionalities among various smart device brands including Apple’s offerings, continuous internet connectivity remains essential for receiving real-time information on current events and system updates across all smart speakers.
Privacy Concerns
Recent reports have raised alarm regarding Amazon’s concerns related to privacy breaches. An investigation conducted by Bloomberg in 2019 revealed that Amazon staff listened in on countless private audio clips—upward of 1,000 daily—to enhance their natural language understanding and speech recognition algorithms.
Moreover, Amazon’s track record with privacy issues has led them into legal troubles; in 2023 alone the Federal Trade Commission accused Amazon of letting employees access customer footage captured by Ring security cameras. This resulted in a hefty penalty—$30 million—for allowing unauthorized viewing of recorded interactions with children using Alexa-enabled devices earlier that year.
The Future: Subscriptions or Silence?
It appears that Amazon is poised for an increase in subscription services as their Alexa platform has proven unprofitable thus far. Users may now face a stark choice: submit their recordings under this new policy or risk significantly reducing the functionality of their Echo units altogether.
