I've been using a smart speaker for years, but I'm concerned about its ability to collect and use my voice recordings - how can I delete my recordings and opt out of data collection?

I totally get your concern about smart speaker data collection - it's a valid one! I've been in your shoes before, wondering what happens to my voice recordings and how they're being used. First, let's tackle deleting your recordings. To do this, you'll need to go into the settings of your smart speaker's app. On my speaker, it's under 'Account & Settings' or something similar - it might be labeled differently on yours. Once you're in settings, look for 'Recording History' or 'Voice Recordings' and select it. From there, you should be able to view and delete your recordings.

As for opting out of data collection, you'll usually find this option in the same settings menu. It might be hidden under a 'Data & Privacy' or 'Privacy Settings' section. Look for an option that says 'Delete recordings' or 'Turn off recording history' - this will stop your speaker from storing new recordings. You might also see an option to 'Disable voice recognition' or something similar, which will stop your speaker from sending your voice data to the company's servers. This is usually a good idea if you're really concerned about data collection.

If you're looking for alternative smart speakers that prioritize user privacy and data security, I'd recommend checking out Amazon's Echo Dot with a local storage option. This allows you to store your recordings locally on the device, rather than sending them to Amazon's servers. Another option is the Google Nest Hub Max, which also has a local storage option. Keep in mind that even with local storage, your device will still be collecting some data, but it'll be stored on your device rather than in the cloud. It's worth noting that no smart speaker is completely 'privacy-friendly', but these options are a step in the right direction.