Amazon Echo changes terms of voice usage: Difference between revisions

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 From archival analysis of the [https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201602230 Alexa FAQ] page, it can be estimated that this feature was introduced in early to mid 2022, given the first available archived copy of the page was in September 2022. As of writing, this page still includes this feature despite its imminent removal.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alexa and Alexa Device FAQs |url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201602230 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901001441/https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201602230 |archive-date=2022-09-01 |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=Amazon Customer Support}}</ref> This likely means that the Echo (4th Gen) was not launched with this feature, as it was launched 10/22/2020<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gartenberg |first=Chaim |date=2020-09-24 |title=Amazon redesigns the Echo with a new spherical design and a custom machine learning processor |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/24/21452347/amazon-echo-4th-generation-features-price-release-date-alexa |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241212183356/https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/24/21452347/amazon-echo-4th-generation-features-price-release-date-alexa |archive-date=2024-12-12 |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=The Verge}}</ref> with the Echo Show 10 following not long after on 2/25/2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seifert |first=Dan |date=2021-02-24 |title=Amazon Echo Show 10 review: Alexa’s next move |url=https://www.theverge.com/22297810/amazon-echo-show-10-2021-review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250317152944/https://www.theverge.com/22297810/amazon-echo-show-10-2021-review |archive-date=2025-03-17 |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=The Verge}}</ref> However, the Echo Show 15 (2023) and Echo Show 15 (2024) were both launched since, as implied by their names, and even the former was announced after this feature was unveiled.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tuohy |first=Jennifer Pattison |date=2022-12-16 |title=Amazon Echo Show 15 review: Alexa’s on your wall |url=https://www.theverge.com/22839220/amazon-echo-show-15-review-wall-mounted-alexa-tablet-kitchen-tv |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250307173006/https://www.theverge.com/22839220/amazon-echo-show-15-review-wall-mounted-alexa-tablet-kitchen-tv |archive-date=2025-03-07 |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=The Verge}}</ref>
-[[Amazon Echo removal of Do Not Send Voice option.png|alt=This image is a screenshot of the email sent by Amazon to customers using the Do Not Send Voice Recordings feature on Echo devices. It indicates that on March 28, 2025, this feature will be disabled and voice recordings will recorded as they "expand Alexa’s capabilities with generative AI features."|thumb|Email from Amazon, 2025-03-14]]
 ==Removal of the Do Not Send Voice feature==
+[[File:Amazon Echo removal of Do Not Send Voice option.png|thumb|250px|alt=This image is a screenshot of the email sent by Amazon to customers using the Do Not Send Voice Recordings feature on Echo devices. It indicates that on March 28, 2025, this feature will be disabled and voice recordings will recorded as they "expand Alexa’s capabilities with generative AI features."|E-mail from Amazon, 2025-03-14]]
 On March 14, 2025 (unknown if this notice rolled out over multiple days), Amazon sent an email with the subject "Upcoming change to your Alexa Settings" to customers which had enabled the Do Not Send Voice feature. The email cites coming improvements to Alexa, including the addition of generative AI features. No alternative is given other than the already-existing "Don't save recordings" feature, which merely prohibits Amazon from keeping copies of the recordings.