Alexa Plus bug leaves some Echo speakers repeating sounds for minutes
A bug affecting Amazon's Alexa Plus smart speakers has caused them to repeatedly sing or say "lalala" for minutes at a time, often interrupting user conversations. This strange behaviour has been reported multiple times on Reddit over recent weeks, with users uploading videos documenting the glitch, and when questioned, Alexa appears unaware of what has occurred.
The issue affects a small number of Alexa Plus users across multiple types of Echo speakers. Amazon has acknowledged the problem and confirmed it is working on a fix, according to a statement provided to Android Authority.
- Alexa Plus speakers repeatedly singing "lalala" for minutes
- Bug interrupts user conversations across multiple Echo devices
- Amazon aware and developing a fix
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Alexa is Amazon's voice assistant built into Echo smart speakers, devices found in millions of homes across the world. Users rely on these speakers to respond to voice commands for everything from controlling smart home devices to playing music and answering questions.
A bug has struck some Alexa Plus users, causing their speakers to unexpectedly repeat sounds or sing "lalala" for extended periods. The glitch interrupts normal conversations and use, and interestingly, when asked about the behaviour, Alexa acts as if nothing unusual has happened.
The problem affects a small number of Alexa Plus customers across different Echo speaker models. Amazon has acknowledged the issue and said it is working on a fix.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
This glitch raises legitimate concerns about Amazon's quality control for devices that listen to users in their homes. When Alexa malfunctions and then appears unaware it has done so, users have every right to worry about what else might malfunction silently—particularly regarding privacy and audio recording. That enough users reported the issue to generate multiple documented videos suggests Amazon's testing procedures may not be sufficiently rigorous for devices in such intimate settings.
The case against
Software bugs are inevitable in complex connected devices, and Amazon's swift public acknowledgement and commitment to fixing the issue demonstrates appropriate responsibility. The fact that this affected only a small portion of users and was quickly identified through normal monitoring actually shows their quality systems working as intended. It would be unreasonable to expect technological perfection, and it would be unfair to fault companies for transparently identifying and resolving known issues.
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Originally published by The Verge as “Amazon Alexa Plus keeps creepily singing ‘lalala’ for minutes on end”.