Amazon’s patent application for an always-on feature for Alexa, its popular voice-activated personal assistant, has raised a lot of concern. “If you’re already freaked out by the privacy implications of smart speakers like Amazon’s Echo,” says Gizmodo, “we have some bad news.” A headline in ScienceAlert is even more direct: “Newly Released Amazon Patent Shows Just How Much Creepier Alexa Can Get.”
You get the idea.
But the anxiety is much ado about nothing. An Alexa that’s always listening will likely prove more useful than an Alexa that isn’t; and, in any case, always-on devices are certainly our future.
As of January 2019, Amazon had sold more than 100 million devices that include Alexa. That number is certainly dwarfed by the billions of devices that include Siri and Google Assistant. But the difference is, those features come bundled with your smartphone, which has many other uses. When you purchase an Alexa device, you are choosing to invite Amazon into your home to listen to you.
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8 comments:
Exactly why I don't own one and never will.
some marvelous marketing brainwashing going on in that article.
big brother always listening to you is more helpful than not so don't worry your little heads.
smh
Me too 1:15
I also never purchased one, nor do I every plan to purchase one due to privacy issues
What exactly do people use Alexa for anyway?
Smart people do not need smart devices.
We are already smart.
I am smart enough to turn on the radio.
They will be subpoenaed in the future.
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