Amitabh Bachchan’s voice no longer available on Alexa as Amazon discontinues celebrity feature

Amazon has confirmed it will discontinue its celebrity voice feature for Alexa devices. Customers will no longer be able to purchase the voices of celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan, Samuel L Jackson, Shaquille O’Neal and Melisssa McCarthy, which Alexa-powered devices earlier supported.

Amazon had introduced the celebrity voice feature to make things more fun and interesting for Alexa users. Customers who purchased the feature could say, “Hey [celebrity name]” and command them to relate a story, answer a question, tell a joke and more.

The voice of Hindi film industry star Amitabh Bachchan was earlier available for purchase for Rs 299. However, a message on the listing now reads: “This skill is no longer available for purchase. Customers who previously purchased this experience will continue to have access for one year from the date of purchase.”

“After three years, we’re winding down celebrity voices,” Amazon spokesperson Eric Sveum says in a statement to The Verge. “Customers will be able to continue using these voices for a limited time, and can contact our customer service team for a refund.”