@librarianshipwreck

That title is intentionally misleading. Alexa won't be eavesdropping on your private conversations (at least not intentionally).

Alexa uses your interactions "with Alexa" to train and improve.
Tesla uses your driving to train and improve its self driving.
ChatGPT uses your interactions to improve.
Google maps uses your data and driving information to improve.
Instagram uses how you scroll and the photos you share to improve.
Quora uses your answers to train its AI models.

@librarianshipwreck

We need to give them more accurate names. I suggest "spy microphones".

@librarianshipwreck

I don't even speak on my deck around my Blink cameras. It's gotten ridiculous. :(

@librarianshipwreck @ReneeWestberry I often (*often*) wonder if there’s some algorithm in an Apple HomePod that sends my conversations to quality control if they include phrases like “FFS” or “You’re shit at this,” etc…

“Oh, he’s swearing again… Time to tweak the program”

@librarianshipwreck

As soon as Alexa asked if I want to help train AI speech real-time, I unplugged it. It's been unplugged for about 6 weeks now.

@librarianshipwreck

Even this warning is naive.

How many "IoT" devices are linked to Alexa, Siri, etc? See that #streaming remote control on your coffee table, the one with the little hole for the microphone?

How about your car? Older models had mics just so you could hands-free call via your phone. But newer car mics have their own connections to the Internet; they don't need permission from your phone to upload audio.

Refrigerators now have mics + Internet. Its completely crazy.

@librarianshipwreck @sadmac356

I am wary of my network printer. There is zero chance of my choosing get a smart speaker.

I am not without sin - I ask Siri to read texts I receive while driving.

@librarianshipwreck

Aaaand there's the reason I never wanted to buy one.

@librarianshipwreck 💯 this

And yet I have a smart phone

And when I mention to my brother that we need to get school shoes, the next time I open maps it's showing me where all the school uniform shops are

Most of us have smart speakers, whether we know it or not

@librarianshipwreck

That's only about Amazon's smart speakers. I wouldn't have one.

_But_ I love my Google smart speakers.

@librarianshipwreck
@matthewskelton

So glad we never bought into the hype.

Partly privacy reasons, but mostly just because I never liked the "please play X" interface - I want to browse my own music collection. I prefer a list I can scroll than relying on my memory!

@librarianshipwreck

If you do get a smart speaker, swear a lot. Extra points for swearing in different languages.

@librarianshipwreck

At first I thought this statement was political