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Thread: Alexa, you're too smart

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
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    Upland CA
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    5,548

    Alexa, you're too smart

    I am probably late to the party again, but.....

    This morning I told Alexa to add shredded wheat to the shopping list. She answered back the usual 'shredded wheat is added to the shopping list', then asked 'is this Cynthia?'.

    To shut it up, I just said yes.

    Then it came back with 'I didn't recognize your voice, Cynthia, It didn't sound like you'.

    To which I answered 'cancel' to shut it up.

    So....when did voice recognition come to every household? Big Sister is watching.
    Rick Potter

    DIY journeyman,
    FWW wannabe.
    AKA Village Idiot.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
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    Voice recognition has been a feature of Alexa devices for at least a year. I think ours recently asked me if I wanted to turn it on, but I said no. It's possible Cynthia turned it on in your house at one point.
    And there was trouble, taking place...

  3. #3
    Join Date
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    SE PA - Central Bucks County
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    These low level AIs can provide a personalized experience when they recognize individual residents and it can make interaction more efficient. It's not necessary to use it, but for some, it's an attractive feature.
    --

    The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...

  4. #4
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    Now the shredded wheat may have been taken off your grocery list.

    You should have told it you have a little nasal congestion at the moment.

    All this AI stuff in people's homes has me worried enough to not have it.

    Got an email the other day about kids watching porn on the refrigerator:

    Why Kids are Standing in front of the Refrigerator.png

    A recent trip to California took me away from my daily internet indulgences. The most missed thing was the daily comics.

    jtk
    "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
    - Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

  5. #5
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    I had accidentally turned Siri on my phone in my pocket. Loading some stuff in the garage and hurt my finger. I let loose a string of expletives. Suddenly Siri says "Stan! Your language!"
    < insert spurious quote here >

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Koepke View Post
    ... The most missed thing was the daily comics.
    Which comics are your favorites? Do you subscribe to an online newspaper or use a comics web site?

    I used to get a daily digital newspaper but canceled when they tripled the price.

    JKJ

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Stan Calow View Post
    I had accidentally turned Siri on my phone in my pocket. Loading some stuff in the garage and hurt my finger. I let loose a string of expletives. Suddenly Siri says "Stan! Your language!"
    Lol, I was working within earshot of Echo (Alexa is in another room), and my buddy called. I answered, "Hey Cary, what's up?". I have no idea what echo thought I said, but she announced: "I'm in a Friday kind of mood, Whoo-Hoo!"
    --I had my patience tested. I'm negative--

  8. #8
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    I won't bring any of these into the house. Anything that spies on you and snitches to the government - don't think so!
    There was a flap a couple years ago where Amazon employees got caught listening in on Alexas. No thanks. I have enough to worry about with the phone maybe doing this.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Richard Hart View Post
    I won't bring any of these into the house. Anything that spies on you and snitches to the government [Anybody]- don't think so!
    There was a flap a couple years ago where Amazon employees got caught listening in on Alexas. No thanks. I have enough to worry about with the phone maybe doing this.
    I just don't see where benefit outweighs risk when it comes to these devices. A law enforcement agency would have to get a court order to place a bugging device in my home. If I can be convinced to place a bugging device in my home voluntarily no court order needed.

  10. #10
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    You guys must have a lot of stuff to hide if you’re worried about anyone (or anything) hearing it!

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by Matt Day View Post
    You guys must have a lot of stuff to hide if you’re worried about anyone (or anything) hearing it!
    I don't post my bank account information on utility poles either. Once it's "out there" you have no control over who uses what information for what purposes. I prefer to limit "what's out there".

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by John K Jordan View Post
    Which comics are your favorites? Do you subscribe to an online newspaper or use a comics web site?

    I used to get a daily digital newspaper but canceled when they tripled the price.

    JKJ
    These are my regular reads:

    Comics.png

    Holding the control key while clicking the folder on the menu bar opens them all in tabs. That makes it easy to read one, close and move to the next.

    jtk
    "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
    - Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

  13. #13
    Join Date
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    You guys must have a lot of stuff to hide if you’re worried about anyone (or anything) hearing it!
    I Have zero to hide - but - volumes of stuff that are my business alone & I like to choose the people I share it with.
    My granddad always said, :As one door closes, another opens".
    Wonderful man, terrible cabinet maker...

  14. #14
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    Oct 2006
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    Quote Originally Posted by Curt Harms View Post
    I don't post my bank account information on utility poles either. Once it's "out there" you have no control over who uses what information for what purposes. I prefer to limit "what's out there".
    If you ever write a check your account number and everything else required to access your bank account is accessible to anyone that handles that check.

  15. #15
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    Jul 2021
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    Quote Originally Posted by Matt Day View Post
    You guys must have a lot of stuff to hide if you’re worried about anyone (or anything) hearing it!
    That's not the point. The point is, it's invasive even if you're squeaky clean. Why open that portal?

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