In this week’s blog, I would like to talk about a feature that is becoming more and more common on several platforms. The feature I am talking about is voice activation or verbal commands. This option became big with Siri on the iPhone; she helped you search the internet and even make calls. This was intended to stop the hands-on use of your phone while driving. Then came Alexa and Google home devices. These devices can control just about every smart device in your home—everything from lighting to the shows you want to watch. You can even get them to entertain your kids with endless dad jokes. However, this time I am not just highlighting all the helpful ways you can use this technology. This time I would like to warn everyone that with features like this comes things you need to be cautious of. I am sure everyone has been having a conversation with someone about an item you might purchase, then when you get on your phone or computer, you start seeing advertisements for that same item. Well, that is because the microphone is always on. For it to always be ready for use, the microphone must stay on. Companies like Google and Facebook have started to use this feature to listen to you. They listen for words that are repeated, like new Dodge Ram. If you say it several times in a short period, you are likely to start seeing ads for new Dodge Rams. This allows them to target advertisements relevant to what you are looking for and increase the value of running advertisements on their platform. Currently, there is nothing you can do to stop this other than not using the devices. I hope this post made everyone more aware.
Here is a link to an article that explains more about what your devices know about you.
https://www.npr.org/2018/01/14/577969778/what-your-smart-devices-know-about-you
Mike,
ReplyDeleteUp until I read your blog post I was considering getting Alexa, but I do not need anything or anyone listening in on my conversations... I say some pretty colorful things! I do not need advertisements for these things! It is crazy and eye opening when I have a conversation with my wife and, BAM, there is an advertisement. I now know that our talk about me being a Viking for Halloween is why my Facebook is filled with viking drinking horns!!!! Thanks for the information to help me stay say from Skynet!
Andy D.
Andy,
DeleteYou are correct any conversation you have with your phone around will lead to notifications about anything discussed. It's sad that company's are doing this and you don't have the option to opt out.
Mike,
ReplyDeleteI am glad you brought this up in your blog. As everyone know...or at least it is all over the news of big tech having to much control of our daily lives. Technology scares me, I have said in our discussion boards and couple of our cohort blog posts if I was king for the day I would pull the plug to take us back to the horse drawn buggy days. There are too many people in the world that want to see "The World Burn" and with the internet their reach is immeasurable.
v/r
Andy E.
Mike,
ReplyDeleteThis is a topic that has fascinated me for some time. Companies like Amazon and Google say that technologies like this work they way they do to “enhance” the user experience. I tend to think it is an invasion of my privacy. That being said, there is a way to stop these devices from listening in...don’t buy them lol. All jokes aside, you can turn Siri off. Don’t get me wrong, if I am doing some math you better bet I am turning Siri on because she is good at math, way better than I am. It might be interesting if there is ever a disable button on devices like Alexa and Google Home so I can turn it off and on when I want to use it and subsequently put it in standby mode when I don’t want to be spied on.
Mike W.
Mike,
DeleteI would but that device in a heart beat. I would love to opt out of sharing my conversations with the company. The mic can stay on but it doesn't need to be connected to a super computer, just the device in my home. I think it is un-ethical what they are doing.
Mike,
ReplyDeleteI have spoken about this in my blog as well about how companies are using artificial intelligence and various technologies to target consumers and market their products. I can say that I have also warned of the potential dangers of this technology and how there are some legal issues such as invasion of privacy that society is currently grappling with. That said, I see a lot of value in the voice technology that people use to create a hands free environment in their vehicles. I think this technology is critically important. It seems every time I see someone swerving in my lane, I pass them only to see them texting on their phone going over 70 mph on the interstate. If everyone would use hands free technology then, in my opinion, the roads would be safer. As technologies advance to be used for other things however they have the potential to overstep boundaries and invade privacy. At the end of the day its a double edged sword that we as a society must determine how far we will allow technology companies to intervene in our lives...do we prefer convenience or do we prefer our privacy? Great thought provoking post.
Anthony
Mike,
ReplyDeleteIt is crazy how these devices can listen in on your conversations without any regard for privacy. Even your phones can listen in on your conversations as well. Imagine the billions of people worldwide carrying smartphones and how invasive those devices are? Unfortunately, people are becoming more reliant on these devices for their everyday tasks, so I don't see them going away. Sooner or later, they will be necessary for almost everything we do on a daily basis. Heck, even cars have Alexa or some type of AI built in. So much for privacy these days. Great points in the discussion.
Mike,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this information. I never thought about how with this technology corporations can target you subconsciously just by collecting the data of the words one speaks. I was amazed on how easily it can be done and how they can then take advantage and tailor advertisements to persuade you into buying things that you were at some point thinking about. Again, thanks for this information and great post.
Alex
Mike
ReplyDeleteI am very aware of the features on these devices and watch what I say. I have not noticed targeting advertising from anything I have said but I will look out for that now. I have warned my Mom several times not to mention doing anything to a certain political figure since that could get us in trouble while I point at the Alexa lol. As with everything in technology there is a good and a bad. I am with Andy E. and miss the whole if I am not home to answer my phone I am not there. Thanks for a great post.
Tammy
Mike, very interesting points and you are correct. Every time I talk about something I am thinking about buying I start seeing ads. We have Alexa in the kitchen. Primarily for listening to music during meals or while cooking. Our youngest has caught on that she can use google speak instead of knowing how to spell, we are currently trying to break her of that habit lol. I wish our kids knew what it was like to live without certain pressures. I am almost certain that cell phones increase anxiety. The price we pay for convenience I guess.
ReplyDelete-Mandy
Michael,
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy coming to your blog to read the great information you provide on smart devices. Like I have said before, I am behind in the technology department. Voice activation technology although popular is still very new to me. Until this post I had no idea of some of the dangers that are involved with this technology. I never realized the microphone is always on!!! I will be using caution when it pertains to my privacy in the future. It is amazing to me that these big technology companies can get away with stuff like this. I think there needs to be a big push to establish rules, regulations, and guidelines to protect the privacy of citizens in the United States and abroad. We all know money drives the world but at some point, we must value people’s privacy over money. Thanks for the information. Have a great day!
-Kev