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Alexa voice data sold for advertising, Ive's exit from Apple, and more on the AppleInsider podcast

On this week's AppleInsider Podcast, your hosts talk about how developers can apply to attend WWDC in-person, examine a YouTuber's behind-the-scenes look at Apple's Fitness+ studio, discuss Amazon's sale of Alexa voice data to over 40 advertising partners, and more.

Starting May 9, 2022, existing Apple developers can apply to attend a special in-person event on June 6 at the Worldwide Developers Conference. Details remain sparse on what the in-person attendees will actually experience, though. Still, the invitation states that attendees will watch the keynote and State of the Union videos alongside Apple engineers and experts — plus explore the all-new "Developer Center."

Next, YouTube creator iJustine has toured the Apple Fitness+ studio in Santa Monica, California. She interviewed VP of Fitness Jay Blahnik and several Fitness+ instructors on the planning, rehearsal, and production process of Fitness+ workouts.

Perhaps less impressively, Amazon recently confirmed to The Verge that voice data from Alexa interactions are shared with third-party advertisers. For "shared," read "sold."

According to new research from Cornell University, this type of voice data leads to "30X higher ad bids from advertisers." Not that this is in any way the reason that smart speaker brand Sonos has announced its own voice assistant is in a software update coming next month.

Finally, the New York Times has run an article based on the Tripp Mickle book "After Steve: How Apple Became a Trillion-Dollar Company and Lost Its Soul." It describes the frustration Jony Ive reportedly experienced as CEO Tim Cook made numerous changes within Apple.

The book claims that Ive believes design has taken a back seat to features and performance at the company, leading to increasingly utilitarian designs. Here's looking at you, Mac Studio.

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