Amazon is discontinuing on-device processing for Alexa voice commands. All future requests will be sent to the cloud for processing, regardless of device capabilities. While Amazon claims this will lead to a more unified and improved Alexa experience with faster response times and access to newer features, it effectively removes the local processing option previously available on some devices. This change means increased reliance on a constant internet connection for Alexa functionality and raises potential privacy concerns regarding the handling of voice data.
Home Assistant has launched a preview edition focused on open, local voice control. This initiative aims to address privacy concerns and vendor lock-in associated with cloud-based voice assistants by providing a fully local, customizable, and private voice assistant solution. The system uses Mozilla's Project DeepSpeech for speech-to-text and Rhasspy for intent recognition, enabling users to define their own voice commands and integrate them directly with their Home Assistant automations. While still in its early stages, this preview release marks a significant step towards a future of open and privacy-respecting voice control within the smart home.
Commenters on Hacker News largely expressed enthusiasm for Home Assistant's open-source voice assistant initiative. Several praised the privacy benefits of local processing and the potential for customization, contrasting it with the limitations and data collection practices of commercial assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. Some discussed the technical challenges of speech recognition and natural language processing, and the potential of open models like Whisper and LLMs to improve performance. Others raised practical concerns about hardware requirements, ease of setup, and the need for a robust ecosystem of integrations. A few commenters also expressed skepticism, questioning the accuracy and reliability achievable with open-source models, and the overall viability of challenging established players in the voice assistant market. Several eagerly anticipated trying the preview edition and contributing to the project.
Summary of Comments ( 98 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43402115
HN commenters generally lament the demise of on-device processing for Alexa, viewing it as a betrayal of privacy and a step backwards in functionality. Several express concern about increased latency and dependence on internet connectivity, impacting responsiveness and usefulness in areas with poor service. Some speculate this move is driven by cost-cutting at Amazon, prioritizing server-side processing and centralized data collection over user experience. A few question the claimed security benefits, arguing that local processing could enhance privacy and security in certain scenarios. The potential for increased data collection and targeted advertising is also a recurring concern. There's skepticism about Amazon's explanation, with some suggesting it's a veiled attempt to push users towards newer Echo devices or other Amazon services.
The Hacker News comments section for the article "Amazon to kill off local Alexa processing, all voice requests shipped to cloud" contains several interesting points of discussion.
Many commenters express concerns about privacy implications. One user highlights the increased data collection this change represents, lamenting the loss of even the limited privacy offered by local processing. They argue this move further solidifies Amazon's surveillance capabilities. Another commenter sarcastically suggests that this is Amazon's way of "improving" Alexa by forcing all data through their servers for analysis, seemingly at the expense of user privacy. Several others echo this sentiment, expressing distrust in Amazon's handling of personal data.
The practicality of the shift is also questioned. One commenter points out the added latency introduced by cloud processing, especially for simple commands that could be handled locally. They question the benefit of cloud processing in such cases and suggest it might lead to a degraded user experience. This is further supported by another user who notes the irony of initially promoting local processing as a feature and then quietly removing it. They speculate on the actual reasons behind the move, suggesting cost-cutting measures might be the primary driver.
Some comments delve into the technical aspects. One user questions the rationale behind removing local processing for newer devices, especially those with more powerful processors. They hypothesize that this decision might stem from difficulties in maintaining different codebases for local and cloud processing, ultimately favoring a unified cloud-based approach for simplification. Another technically-oriented comment questions the claim that everything was being sent to the cloud anyway, pointing out that certain functionalities like smart home device control benefited from local processing. They highlight the tangible difference this change will make for those features.
A few users offer alternative perspectives. One commenter suggests that local processing might have been a temporary solution while Amazon developed their cloud infrastructure. Now that their cloud capabilities are more robust, they might be consolidating their efforts. Another user cynically remarks that this move isn't surprising, given the general trend of tech companies centralizing services and data.
The overall sentiment in the comments leans towards skepticism and disappointment. Users seem concerned about the privacy implications, question the practical benefits, and lament the loss of a feature previously touted as an advantage. While a few offer alternative explanations, the majority view this change as a negative development.