Amazon’s Alexa Echo has turned into the charming, talkative helper that many of us didn’t realize we needed until it was here.
This device does more than just play music or answer trivia questions; it’s integrated itself so seamlessly into our lives that we sometimes forget it’s even there.
However, an expert warns that this forgetfulness might be cause for concern.
The convenience of saying “Alexa, play some jazz,” means our favorite tunes are just a voice command away, transforming Alexa into our personal DJ. Not only that, but Alexa can also manage smart home devices, create playlists, and much more.
For the forgetful among us, Alexa is a lifesaver, setting reminders for everything from daily alarms to birthday calls. Yet, the flip side is that Alexa is always there, always listening for the next command, which can easily be overlooked.
However, experts advise caution on where to place your Alexa device, particularly recommending against keeping it in bedrooms to avoid unwanted eavesdropping.
The speculation about whether Amazon employees can listen in through Alexa devices has been fueled by past whistleblower claims that staff checked conversations to ensure device functionality.
Discussing the technology, Dr. Hannah Fry told the Daily Mail in 2019, “This technology is activated by a trigger word [such as ‘Alexa’] but it keeps recording for a short period afterwards. People accept that, but we should all spend more time thinking about what it means for us,” Dr. Fry said.
Dr. Fry further cautioned about the widespread implications of such technology, “There are people who are very senior in the tech world who will not have so much as a smartphone in their bedroom… If a company is offering you a device with an internet-connected microphone at a low price, you have to think about that very carefully…
“I have both an Alexa and a Google voice-activated device and I regularly turn them both off. People really must set their own limits.”
An Amazon spokesperson responded to these concerns, explaining to LADbible, “Echo devices are designed to record audio only after the device detects your chosen wake word (Alexa, Amazon, Echo, Ziggy or Computer).
“You will always know when Alexa is sending your request to the cloud because a blue light indicator will appear on your Echo. We manually review only a small fraction of one percent of Alexa requests to help improve Alexa.
“Access to these review tools is only granted to a limited number of employees who require them to improve the service.
“Our review process does not associate voice recordings with any customer identifiable information.
Despite these assurances, it might be safer to rethink the placement of your Alexa device. After all, it’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to privacy.
You never know who might be listening.