People regret buying Amazon smart displays after being bombarded with ads

Users of Amazon's Echo Show smart displays are expressing their dissatisfaction as the frequency of advertisements on their devices appears to be on the rise. Previously, the Echo Show showcased ads primarily through its Shopping Lists feature and promoted Alexa skills. However, recent feedback from platforms like Reddit, coupled with insights from The Verge’s Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, indicates a significant increase in the volume of ads appearing on the home screens of these devices. Many customers are reporting that the overwhelming presence of advertisements is driving them to consider abandoning or even returning their Echo Shows. Notably, these devices have begun to feature promotions for Alexa+, Amazon's new generative AI voice assistant, despite it still being in its Early Access phase. One frustrated Reddit user commented on the intrusive nature of these ads, stating, "This is getting ridiculous and I'm about to just toss the whole thing and move back to Google," referring specifically to the loud ads for Alexa+ that have taken over their display. Tuohy noted that she encountered ads on one of her Echo Shows while it was displaying personal photos, a feature that is typically meant for private use. She reported seeing advertisements for various products, including elderberry herbal supplements, Quest sports chips, and tabletop picture frames. Unfortunately for users, there is currently no option available to disable the home screen ads. In response to these concerns, an Amazon representative provided a comment to Ars Technica, but details on potential changes to the ad strategy were not disclosed.