Amazon Smart Display Buyers Regret Ad Overload
▼ Summary
– Amazon Echo Show owners are reporting increased advertisements appearing on their smart displays’ home screens.
– The ads include promotions for Alexa+, Amazon’s new generative AI voice assistant subscription service still in Early Access.
– Users report ads sometimes appear when displays are set to show personal photos and include products like supplements and chips.
– Some frustrated users are considering stopping use of or returning their Echo Shows due to the increased advertising.
– Amazon has not provided users with the ability to disable these home screen ads according to the article.
Owners of Amazon’s Echo Show smart displays are voicing growing frustration as they encounter an increasing number of advertisements interrupting their daily interactions. These devices, designed to assist with tasks and entertainment, now frequently push promotional content directly onto home screens, leading some users to reconsider their reliance on Amazon’s ecosystem.
The issue isn’t entirely new, as ads have previously appeared through features like Shopping Lists and Alexa skills, and audio commercials sometimes play during Amazon Music sessions. What has changed, according to numerous user reports on platforms like Reddit and from tech journalists, is the sheer volume and intrusiveness of these ads. Many feel the experience has crossed a line, with promotions now appearing more aggressively and persistently.
A significant point of contention involves ads for Alexa+, the new generative AI subscription service from Amazon. Despite the service still being in an Early Access phase, full-screen and even full-volume advertisements for it are reportedly dominating Echo Show screens. This has prompted strong reactions from the user community, with some individuals threatening to abandon their devices entirely in favor of competitors like Google.
The problem is compounded by the ads’ unpredictable nature. One journalist noted that advertisements began appearing on one of her several Echo Show devices for the first time recently, even when the display was configured to cycle through a personal photo gallery. The promoted products ranged from elderberry supplements and sports chips to tabletop picture frames, content that feels unrelated to the user’s typical commands or requests.
A critical concern for consumers is the apparent lack of a setting to disable these home screen advertisements. This has left many feeling they have lost control over a device they purchased for their home. When questioned about the situation, an Amazon representative provided a statement to media outlets, though a clear solution for users to opt out of the ads has not been offered. This advertising push is causing a notable backlash, with some customers deciding to stop using their devices or even initiating returns.
(Source: Ars Technica)
