Amazon’s representative also noted that users can still connect a device to their Echo via Bluetooth, which is likely the most common way of connecting third-party devices to Amazon speakers today. The spokesperson said that very few people use voice commands to control audio from a device connected to an Echo’s AUX, which suggests that few users are affected.
Still, it’s frustrating to see a company remove a feature from purchased devices that users may have relied on for years and without a stated reason. Amazon’s representative didn’t answer Ars’ questions about why Amazon removed this Alexa capability or how many users are affected.
“They had the functionality, it’s not like it was a security issue or anything. I cannot understand the reason they’d simply remove a function beyond enshittification,” a Reddit user said in response to the news.
Removing the feature may make it easier for Amazon to maintain Alexa, especially as Amazon puts more resources into improving its AI-powered, subscription-based version of Alexa, Alexa+.
This isn’t the first time Amazon has removed functionality from purchased devices. Last year, it removed users’ ability to block their Echo device from sending voice recordings of commands spoken to Alexa to Amazon. The Echo 4th Gen, Echo Show 15, and Echo Show 10 supported the capability.