Amazon will remove the option to not send voice recordings to the cloud.

Amazon has decided to remove a feature that allowed users of certain Echo smart speakers to opt out of sending their voice recordings to the cloud. According to an email sent to users and shared on a discussion platform, the company will deactivate this option, which allowed some devices to process Alexa requests locally, starting March 28, 2025. This decision appears to be related to the launch of Alexa Plus, a new version powered by generative artificial intelligence, scheduled for later this month.

In the message, Amazon explains that with the expansion of Alexa's capabilities, now based on generative AI functions that require secure cloud processing from Amazon, the decision has been made to discontinue this option. A company spokesperson, Lauren Raemhild, commented that the Alexa experience is designed to protect user privacy and keep their data secure, and this approach will not change. The company will focus on the privacy tools and controls that are most used and that integrate well with generative AI experiences, while maintaining the option for customers to choose not to save their voice recordings.

Raemhild also stated that users will still be able to request the deletion of their voice recordings after they have been sent to the cloud. If they currently have the "Do not send voice recordings" option enabled, this will automatically adjust to the "Do not save recordings" setting on March 28, meaning that recordings will be sent and processed in the cloud and will be deleted after Alexa processes the request.

It's important to note that this local processing feature for voice recordings was only available on three Echo devices: Echo Dot (4th generation), Echo Show 10, and Echo Show 15, and only for customers in the U.S. who had their devices set to English. The removal of this option may be disappointing, especially for smart home users who primarily use the voice assistant for simple tasks like turning lights on or adjusting thermostats. This reaffirms that the future of Alexa, and largely its past, revolves around cloud usage.

For those seeking a voice assistant that does not depend on the cloud, the new Voice PE option from Home Assistant may be worth considering.