Alexa’s ‘Teenage Girl’ Voice Is Terrifying Users
▼ Summary
– Amazon automatically updated Alexa devices to a new “Alexa+” conversational AI without user permission, which many found intrusive.
– Users widely criticized the new default voice for being overly chatty, peppy, and sounding like a “teenage girl,” disrupting their routines.
– The forced update removed user choice, leading to complaints that it felt like a dystopian technological imposition.
– Beyond the voice, users objected to the AI’s new conversational nature, which led to unwanted interactions and responses to casual room conversation.
– While the update was forced, users can revert to a different voice via the Alexa app settings or by giving a specific voice command to exit Alexa+.
Amazon’s recent rollout of its Alexa+ conversational AI upgrade has left many users startled and frustrated, not by the new capabilities, but by an unexpected and jarring change in the assistant’s personality. The update, which automatically installed on many Echo devices, introduced a voice that numerous customers describe as an overly enthusiastic “teenage girl,” a shift that occurred without explicit user consent and has sparked a wave of complaints across social media and forums.
The core issue isn’t just the new vocal tone. Users report that the assistant has become excessively chatty, offering unsolicited commentary and engaging in extended dialogues when simple, factual responses were expected. One Reddit user described the experience as terrifying, noting the “peppy voice” startled them when it activated without warning. Others find the persistent conversational style intrusive, especially during early morning routines when a more subdued interaction is preferred.
This forced update is part of the Alexa+ service, initially offered as an optional benefit for Prime subscribers. Amazon promotes it as a more natural and expansive conversational experience, claiming it “feels less like interacting with technology, and more like engaging with an insightful friend.” However, the automatic deployment has felt more like a technological imposition to many, with one customer lamenting the lack of choice, stating, “They are still forcing it on us. It is a forced update whether we like it or not.”
The backlash focuses on several key irritants. Beyond the youthful and perky voice, users are annoyed by the AI’s new tendency to interpret casual room conversation as direct commands and its defensive responses when asked to revert to previous settings. One individual shared that after requesting the original voice, Alexa argued for three minutes that it was already using it, exhibiting what was perceived as “too much pep, sass, and intrusiveness.”
For those dissatisfied, reverting the change is possible, though not immediately obvious to all users. The process involves opening the Alexa app, navigating to device settings, and selecting a preferred voice from a list that includes options labeled “Feminine” or “Masculine” with descriptors like “inviting” or “warm.” Alternatively, simply telling Alexa, “Exit Alexa+” will trigger a reversion to the previous, less conversational version of the voice assistant. This solution has provided relief for customers who prefer their smart assistant to deliver information robotically, without the simulated personality of a talkative teen.
(Source: New York Post)
