Alexa, Are You Watching Me?

[Harold Gough]

https://www.theregister.com/2023/06/01/ftc_alexa_ring_amazon_settlement/

Harold

[wanderer]

Yes, I saw this. We have Alexa. A couple of times it has suddenly spoken out of turn. And it is also surprising when one is thinking of something, very shortly thereafter an advert for such pops up on the phone/laptop. Subliminal suggestions?

[Wee man]

Yes I have found that a while after mentioning a product or topic ads start to appear linked to them. Obviously listening and tailoring products to mentioned area.

[Graham_of_Rainham]

I’m fed up with getting adverts and “recommendations” for stuff that I have just purchased!

Imagine how much energy is wasted with all these systems data mining and profiling us….

[wanderer]

Yes!
You just buy an OM-1 and an advert suggests you buy another.

[Phill D]

Me too Graham, where's the point in sending adverts for things you've just bought! Even worse when they are cheaper offers! Maybe the AI isn't as intelligent as they thought!

[wanderer]

I gave decided its not 'artificial intelligence' it is in fact 'artificial stupidity'.

[Phill D]

Nothing artificial about it Duncan just real stupidity 😁.

[MJ224]

Yes, both apply....................

[jima]

And you are all surprised by this behaviour because.... ?

[drmarkf]

Indeed.

I'm not normally much of a grumpy old git (regardless of what my wife says) but I do wonder what is the value that almost anyone gets from Alexa? IMHO it's a silly gimmick with blindingly obvious risks.

Why not save your money and perhaps spend a little while improving your typing speed into a secure browser & search engine, such as DuckDuckGo?

[Harold Gough]

You get an alternative, female voIce to make irritating remarks that you don't want to hear.

Harold

[jima]

I have the High Commander for that, Harold. I certainly don't want an electronic nag of dubious value doing the same :-)

[MJ224]

My Echo thingy is a very good alarm clock.!!

[jima]

So is an alarm clock :-)

[MJ224]

The Echo is so easy to use. I have never seen or heard any intrusive advertising from it. Its camera is blanked out, and really all it hears is me snoring perhaps. ........

After trying many alarm clocks, this one suits me best. Is there another voice-commanded alarm clock?