Amazon kills two privacy features on Alexa smart speakers

[Hanno Labuschagne]

Amazon kills two privacy features on Alexa smart speakers

Amazon has disabled two key privacy features in its Alexa smart speakers, in a push to introduce artificial intelligence-powered “agentic capabilities” and turn a profit from the popular devices.

Starting today (March 28), Alexa devices will send all audio recordings to the cloud for processing, and choosing not to save these recordings will disable personalisation features.

[The Conversation]

 

[HAL 9000]

 

[neoprema]

Amazon kills two privacy features on Alexa smart speakers

Amazon has disabled two key privacy features in its Alexa smart speakers, in a push to introduce artificial intelligence-powered “agentic capabilities” and turn a profit from the popular devices.

Starting today (March 28), Alexa devices will send all audio recordings to the cloud for processing, and choosing not to save these recordings will disable personalisation features.

[The Conversation]

Queue all the basement dweller video creators with how this is part of some nefarious cabal to spy on us and that Jeff Bezos secretly wants to know every time you go to the toilet so Bill Gates can jump out and jab you with a polio vaccine… lol

 

[FiestaST]

 

[Wut]

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[Smiggles]

I’ll stick with my HomePod minis thanks

 

[Dolby]

I’ll stick with my HomePod minis thanks

The article is talking about smart speakers.

 

[Priapus]

The article is talking about smart speakers.

And what do you think the HomePod minis are, exactly?

 

[Smiggles]

The article is talking about smart mics.

tiftfy. The speakers in the Echo or Google Nest is anything but smart.

 

[Dolby]

And what do you think the HomePod minis are, exactly?

I looked at them … but whew, unless you’re a serious Applehead, it’s not something most will enjoy.

I guess it sounds better when giving the weather or a countdown timer

 

[Smiggles]

I looked at them … but whew, unless you’re a serious Applehead, it’s not something most will enjoy.

I guess it sounds better when giving the weather or a countdown timer

Good luck paying $20 a month for Alexa when the free stuff is getting better daily. https://9to5google.com/2025/03/29/gemini-2-5-pro-experimental-free/

In a rather unexpected move, Google announced Saturday that it is rolling out the latest 2.5 Pro (experimental) model to all (free) Gemini app users.

 

[Priapus]

I looked at them … but whew, unless you’re a serious Applehead, it’s not something most will enjoy.

I guess it sounds better when giving the weather or a countdown timer

Regardless of your inability to use them. They’re still a smart speaker.

 

[SauRoNZA]

I looked at them … but whew, unless you’re a serious Applehead, it’s not something most will enjoy.

I looked at them … but whew, unless you’re a serious Amazonhead, it’s not something most will enjoy.

See how that works?

 

[FiestaST]

NGL I can't recall hearing the expression "Amazonhead" before

 

[SauRoNZA]

NGL I can't recall hearing the expression "Amazonhead" before

I figured Bezos-acolyte would go over his head.

 

[Rickster]

 

[Smiggles]

NGL I can't recall hearing the expression "Amazonhead" before

 

[Dolby]

Regardless of your inability to use them. They’re still a smart speaker.

I didn’t say they are bad?

And I’m sure they’re useful for checking the weather and setting countdowns for cooking.

But let’s be honest - no one other than the hardcore cult members use them, swear by them and can’t see a fault.

The people commenting in this thread are the same people high up the cult ranks that swear Apple Music and Apple Maps and Apple TV are the best …

Go read up on MacRumours and 9to5 Mac and even though they’re Apple fans, they’re not in the cult - and therefore don’t like HomePods or Siri.

 

[Dolby]

I figured Bezos-acolyte would go over his head.

That’s cute that you’re using @Lupus phrase … albeit incorrectly

 

[Priapus]

I didn’t say they are bad?

Wut?

Are you well?

I didn’t say you said they were bad?