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CNET senior editor Tyler Lacoma says his Echo Show recently began showing generic AI-generated slides through its Created For You feature. He reports that users can give individual slides a thumbs-down, adjust Content Categories and Rotate Once on the device, or choose to display a photo album. Amazon’s explanation for the change and how broadly it affects users are not established in the report.
CNET senior editor Tyler Lacoma reports that his Echo Show began displaying more generic AI-generated slides in its Created For You feature, and describes touchscreen settings that can reduce them. The options include rating a slide negatively, switching off selected content categories, enabling Rotate Once, or showing only a chosen photo album.
Lacoma says the slides appeared on his Echo Show over the previous week or two. He describes them as broad topics, including squirrels finding nuts, cornfield mazes and daylight saving time, accompanied by images he considered poorly generated. He said the material did not appear closely related to his interests. Those observations describe his experience; the report does not establish how common the slides are across Echo Show devices.
To respond to an individual slide, users can tap its three-dot menu and select the thumbs-down option. Lacoma characterizes this as an imperfect signal that may help reduce similar content, not a guaranteed way to block it. For broader changes, swipe down on the device, open Settings, select Display & Appearance, then go to Content Categories.
Within Content Categories, users can switch off topics they do not want displayed while keeping categories they still find useful. Another option is to enable Rotate Once, which Lacoma says makes Amazon’s slides appear only once. The report also describes choosing a photo album as the display’s sole content, though that removes other recommendations, such as recipes and updates, that some users may want to keep.
An Echo Show can sit in a kitchen or other shared space, where rotating content is visible beyond the person who configured the device. Generic or unwanted slides can make the display less useful, particularly for people who prefer personal photos or a limited set of updates. The settings described by CNET give owners ways to tailor the screen without abandoning the device’s other features.
The report also points to a practical distinction: users may be able to influence what appears without having a clear, single switch to disable every AI-generated slide. Category controls and the one-time rotation setting offer different trade-offs. People who want Alexa recommendations can retain selected categories, while those seeking a quieter display can choose their own photos.
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How the Slides Reach Echo Show
The slides are presented through a playback feature Lacoma identifies as Created For You. He describes the material as advertising for Amazon podcasts and similar services, but that characterization is his assessment; the report does not provide an Amazon statement confirming the purpose or targeting of the slides. It also does not explain what system generates each item.
The article appeared as Amazon announced a new Echo Show 16, which CNET framed alongside attention to smart displays. That product announcement is background to the report, rather than the development being covered here. The central finding is the author’s account of a change in what his existing device displayed and the settings he used to reduce it.
““The good news is you can control what your Echo Show, well, shows you — but you have to know what settings to change.””
— Tyler Lacoma, CNET senior editor
Amazon’s Rollout and Controls Remain Unclear
The report does not establish whether the increased slides are part of a broad rollout, a limited test or a change affecting only particular devices or accounts. It gives no data on how many Echo Show owners are seeing them, when the change began across Amazon’s user base, or whether the content is selected using account-level personalization.
Amazon’s stated rationale for the slides, the role of AI in producing them, and whether the settings fully prevent similar items from returning are also not confirmed in the source material. Lacoma reports fewer unwanted images after adjusting his settings, but that is a personal result rather than a measured company-wide outcome.
Check Settings and Watch for Changes
Owners who want to adjust their display can use its touchscreen to review Content Categories, provide feedback on individual slides and decide whether Rotate Once or a photo-only display better fits their preferences. Lacoma says he plans to monitor his Echo Shows and report if the behavior changes. The source does not give a timetable for an Amazon response or a broader software update.
Key Questions
How do I reduce unwanted AI-generated slides on an Echo Show?
On the device, swipe down, open Settings, choose Display & Appearance, then Content Categories. Turn off topics you do not want, or enable Rotate Once to show Amazon’s slides only once, as described by CNET.
Can I give feedback on a specific slide?
Yes. When the slide appears, tap the three-dot menu and select the thumbs-down option. CNET’s Tyler Lacoma says this may help weed out similar content, but describes it as an imperfect solution.
Can my Echo Show display only my photos?
The report says users can choose a photo album to limit slides to their own content. That option also means giving up other displayed material, such as Alexa recommendations and updates.
Has Amazon confirmed why these slides are appearing?
The source material does not include an Amazon explanation. Lacoma suspects they promote Amazon podcasts or similar content, but that is his interpretation, not a confirmed company statement.
Source: cnet.com
