Amazon Workers Are Listening to What You Tell Alexa

[mfcorey1]

Bloomberg) -- Tens of millions of people use smart speakers and their voice software to play games, find music or trawl for trivia. Millions more are reluctant to invite the devices and their powerful microphones into their homes out of concern that someone might be listening.

Sometimes, someone is.

Amazon.com Inc. employs thousands of people around the world to help improve the Alexa digital assistant powering its line of Echo speakers. The team listens to voice recordings captured in Echo owners’ homes and offices. The recordings are transcribed, annotated and then fed back into the software as part of an effort to eliminate gaps in Alexa’s understanding of human speech and help it better respond to commands.

The Alexa voice review process, described by seven people who have worked on the program, highlights the often-overlooked human role in training software algorithms. In marketing materials Amazon says Alexa “lives in the cloud and is always getting smarter.” But like many software tools built to learn from experience, humans are doing some of the teaching.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/amazon-workers-are-listening-to-what-you-tell-alexa/ar-BBVOMU6?li=BBnbfcL&ocid=mailsignout

[liberalmuse]

1. Same with Siri.

Or any other systems like these. That’s why they have you agree to the long privacy clauses. I don’t trust humans not to abuse this, because human nature dictates they will.

[PBC_Democrat]

2. Of course they are ...

This is a huge non-story. They HAVE to listen in order to fine-tune the range of acceptable requests and responses.

I have eight of the devices in my house that control most of the lights, televisions, and the thermostat. I was one of the first to order on back in late 2014 when they were announced.

As long as my data and identity aren't paired, I'm just another of of the millions of users. I have no problem with that.

For those who are avoiding the amazing Amazon product for fear of being snooped on -- you're missed out on cutting edge technology with potentially life-saving capabilities.

Yep, you read that right - life-saving capabilities.

I live in a retirement community and many of my neighbors are in their 80's and live alone. I show them how Alexa can call a neighbor if they need help and can't find or get to their phone.