Amazon will eliminate a privacy feature that allowed Echo users to process Alexa requests locally without sending voice recordings to the cloud. According to Scharon Harding at Ars Technica, this change takes effect March 28 and coincides with the rollout of Alexa+, Amazon’s new subscription-based assistant. All voice commands to Echo devices will now be sent to Amazon’s servers, even for users who previously opted out of cloud processing. The company claims this change is necessary because “generative AI features rely on the processing power of Amazon’s secure cloud.” Users who refuse to allow voice recording storage will lose functionality, including Voice ID. Amazon has previously faced criticism for mismanaging voice recordings, including storing children’s interactions indefinitely and allowing employees to listen to thousands of user recordings during their shifts.