Advertising tests on Yandex Alice devices sparked user backlash in late 2023

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In early November 2023, owners of Yandex smart speakers noticed advertisements activated after interacting with the voice assistant Alice. Reports from users of the Station, including even some with a Plus subscription, circulated on various platforms, indicating the ads appeared during normal usage and disrupted the experience. The implication was that advertising would play after simple actions, seemingly contradicting user expectations for a premium device.

Several Station users shared examples on social networks, noting that after issuing commands like setting a timer or asking about the weather, Alice began to sound advertisements. The spots could not be skipped and ran for about 30 seconds, which caused frustration among listeners who expected a seamless, ad-free interaction on devices they had purchased at full price with a paid Plus tier.

Industry observers and users alike questioned the practice, arguing that in a paid ecosystem the presence of ads felt incongruent with the product’s pricing and promised experience. The situation drew particular attention because it directly touched a core aspect of hardware ownership: the perceived value and privacy of a bedside or household helper that should minimize friction, not interrupt it for promotional content.

Yandex’s official VK group acknowledged that the audio advertising on Station devices was part of an experimental program. The company advised users to contact customer support to disable the feature, signaling a potential opt-out path for those who preferred to avoid audio ads entirely.

Subsequent statements from Yandex indicated that the audio advertising test had concluded. Representatives described the effort as an experimental tool used to gauge audience response. They noted that not every element tested would see future adoption and suggested that audio advertising was delivered to only a small portion of Alice’s user base while feedback was methodically reviewed.

In relation to other tech trials, the article reminds readers that similar situations have occurred with other major brands. For instance, earlier reports highlighted concerns among Xiaomi HyperOS users over new advertising practices integrated into the system, underscoring a broader industry conversation about monetization strategies in smart devices and their impact on user experience.

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