Amazon to Disable Local Processing for Alexa Users on March 28

SEATTLE, Wash. — Amazon has announced that, effective March 28, 2025, Echo device users will no longer have the option to process Alexa requests locally, a feature designed to protect user privacy.

In an email to customers, Amazon stated that disabling this function is necessary to expand Alexa’s capabilities with new generative AI features processed through Amazon’s secure cloud. The change will impact users who currently have the ‘Do Not Send Voice Recordings’ option activated, as all Alexa voice commands will be sent to Amazon cloud servers, raising privacy concerns for many users.

“As we continue to expand Alexa’s capabilities, we have decided to no longer support local processing,” Amazon’s communication read. “This change means that recordings of every command spoken to your Alexa will automatically be stored and processed in the cloud.”

Many users have expressed discomfort regarding the recording of their private requests. Amazon’s previous handling of voice recordings has been called into question, particularly after the company faced backlash in 2023 for retaining audio recordings of children’s interactions with Alexa indefinitely.

Additionally, reports surfaced indicating that Amazon employees had access to AI training data, which included a substantial number of private recordings, further eroding consumer trust. In 2019, it was revealed that employees listened to up to 1,000 audio samples daily during their shifts, a practice rooted in training the Alexa system.

“Alexa voice requests are always encrypted in transit to Amazon’s secure cloud,” the company stated in its latest email, assuring users about the security protocols in place. However, skeptics warn that once the recordings are in the cloud, they will be at the mercy of Amazon’s discretion for usage.

As part of the upcoming changes, users who choose not to allow Amazon to save their voice recordings will lose access to the Voice ID feature. This function is designed to enhance personalization by recognizing individual voices and providing tailored responses. Customers seeking to retain this functionality will need to sacrifice some privacy by allowing voice recordings to be saved.

The email also indicated that Amazon would automatically delete recordings after processing, a feature that does little to allay privacy concerns for many Echo users.

Despite these privacy shifts, Amazon remains optimistic about Alexa’s evolving role in the smart home market. The company is betting on its upcoming subscription-based service, Alexa+, which promises more insights and advanced capabilities, as a means to boost user engagement.

“We believe the new features can enhance the Alexa experience significantly,” a company spokesperson noted. However, given the backlash from existing users regarding privacy concerns, Amazon must work diligently to rebuild trust amongst its consumers.