Google voice search records and keeps conversations people have around their phones – but the files can be deleted >:(
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/google-voice-search-records-stores-conversation-people-have-around-their-phones-but-files-can-be-a7059376.html?utm_content=buffer6835d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Fortunately I'm one of those people who quickly realized that talking to the voice assistant on ones device makes you look like a complete dork...and I have been able to refrain from this buffoonery.
;D ;D ;D
buffoonery is a GREAT word !
deleted. not used it much... Ditto what Bill said :)
The new online only independent does love a bit of click bait.
It's a record of voice searches when you activate the featured. That isn't quite the same as "Google could have a record of everything you have said around it for years, and you can listen to it yourself. The company quietly records many of the conversations that people have around its products." I suppose what they say is true if you start every sentence with "OK Google", but I don't think that is much of a risk for most of us.
I think it is good that media is highlighting this stuff, as people are generally pretty unaware of what they are giving away. I think that the stupid scaremongering detracts from the real issues though.
Whether nefarios or well-intentioned, the number of devices that are apparently recording -smart tvs come to mind- is scary. Not that I am expecting the general public to react or even lightly curb their purchases.
So personally, I'm with Bill. I've always disabled voice functions.
If you look at Mary Meeker's most state of the internet report, she predicts that voice search/commands/etc is at a takeoff point. Voice recognition accuracy is improving ad Baidu is supposedly already at 99% which is considered a threshold level. Google is close behind. The assertion is that when we pass the 99% threshold, this will take off.
>>the number of devices that are apparently recording -smart tvs come to mind
Never really thought about it but the Roku remote does have a voice search feature. Guess they could easily use that for listening as well
Since birth (OK a little later than that), I've disable voice (and speakers) whenever I can find the option. ...But some, like Doc's mention of Roku, simply get by me.
>well-intentioned
Somewhere on here, we have a thread about how companies that once swore on their sainted mothers' graves that they would never spam us if we'd just trust them with our email address...
Good point about remotes. Amazon remote sat next to me with voice activation. Requires a button press, but I wouldn't bet on how secure that is.
We should all assume that if we're within earshot of any connnected device with a microphone then we could be listened to. But then, we live in a world where people can listen in by watching crisp packets near where we're talking (remember this (https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/aug/05/mit-crisp-packet-eavesdrop-audio-sound)?) so where does it end?
>So personally, I'm with Bill. I've always disabled voice functions.
Ditto. Historically beacuse the bork didn't get my Swedish chef accent.. and yes, talking to my phone is just too.. millennial.
Amazon Echo will bring genuinely helpful AI into our homes much sooner than expected
http://theconversation.com/amazon-echo-will-bring-genuinely-helpful-ai-into-our-homes-much-sooner-than-expected-65495
>Amazon Echo
I have one of these and it is superb although I don't use it for many higher functions. It's in the kitchen, where I can use it when my hands are full. I normally use it like a on demand radio for news and weather briefs and verbally setting timers. As for it monitoring what I say, I'm sure it's learned some new swear words from me as I attempt to cook.
Humor aside, if this device was built by Google I would not have it in my house. Amazon already knows what I look at while shopping and what I buy anyway so they ain't learning much new.
The voice recognition is first rate on the Echo.
>voice recognition is first rate on the Echo
Above article says same. I've seen an early one in action, it was good.
>Amazon already knows
It's funny how we humans defend our weaknesses, hhh.
This is a technology I am actually pretty amazed by. My 4 y.o. will use voice recognition to navigate entertainment on an android or ipad and get what she wants without any help. For someone with a disability which makes it difficult to type it must be a tremendous game changer.
I also have to admit that I'm a buffoon on occasion as I've found that I could talk to my phone much faster than I could type with my thumbs.
Echo is a gateway, somehow I don't mind talking to it in the privacy of my home as I do talking to Siri on my phone. But after using Echo I now use Siri a little bit more. Ice is broken.