Alternatives to Alexa offer improved privacy features

Amazon recently revealed a change that affects Alexa users’ privacy. Users will no longer be able to process voice requests locally. This means that voice recordings will be stored on Amazon's servers. As a result, many people are looking for alternatives that offer better privacy options. Two major alternatives are Apple's HomePod and Google Nest devices. Apple's HomePod works like the Amazon Echo. It responds to questions and commands. Some requests are processed on the device, while others go to Apple's servers. However, you cannot choose to process everything locally. Apple does allow users to opt-out of audio data storage unless they agree to it. Plus, Apple does not link your request data to your name. Instead, they use a random identifier that is detached from your data after six months. Google Nest devices also provide good privacy controls. Users can customize what data is saved to their Google account, including voice activity. Google does not keep audio recordings on its servers by default and offers options to auto-delete saved data. While using smart devices does come with certain risks, both Apple and Google provide more privacy protections compared to Amazon at this time.