Tag: smart speakers
Alexa gains free ad-supported Amazon Music
Devices using Alexa in the UK can access a selection of free ad-supported music from Amazon Music, as competition against the likes of Spotify heats up. The tech firm said it is making playlists and stations available to users at no extra cost, marking Amazon’s first step into free music streaming funded by advertising. People…
Now Google admits listening to your smart speaker recordings
Following Amazon's admission that Alexa listens to your recordings, Google too has now said it gives workers access to audio recordings from its Google Home smart speakers. The technology giant said it uses language experts around the world to study a small number of audio “snippets” from users. Google said this work helps with developing…
Smart speakers could be used to detect cardiac arrest, say researchers
Researchers at the University of Washington have come up with an early test AI-powered tool which could be used on smart speakers and even smartphones to listen out for the unique breathing sounds associated with cardiac arrest, and then alert emergency services. People suffering with sudden cardiac arrest initially struggle with irregular gasps of breath,…
Smart speaker users want emergency services call feature despite privacy concerns
Smart speaker owners would like to use their devices to call the emergency services, despite many also being concerned they could be used to spy on them, new research suggests. The Unisys Security Index survey found that almost half (49%) of Britons would like smart speakers such as the Amazon Echo or Google Home to…
Amazon adds option to delete Alexa voice recordings
Amazon is adding an option to Alexa-enabled devices that will allow users to delete all voice recordings, as the company looks to allay privacy concerns around smart speakers. The online retail giant is planning to make it easier for owners to remove recordings, simply by saying “Alexa, delete what I just said” or “Alexa, delete…
Female-voiced AI assistants reinforce gender bias, claims UN study
AI virtual assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant reinforce gender stereotypes which portray women as “subservient” by relying on female voices, a UN report has said. The UNESCO paper criticised voice-powered digital speakers and devices for making it appear that women are “obliging, docile and eager-to-please helpers, available at the touch of a button…
New rules could require security labels for connected devices
Smart TVs and other connected devices could be made to carry labels telling people how secure they are from cyber attacks, under plans announced by the Government. The labels would be initially introduced on a voluntary basis to help consumers identify which products are secure, before eventually becoming mandatory. Under the plans, announced by digital…
Amazon confirms it does ‘listen to what users say to Alexa’ for training purposes
I don't think it will come as a great surprise to many of us. But Amazon has confirmed its staff do listen to recordings of customer interactions with voice-based assistant Alexa to 'help train the artificial intelligence’s responses'. The tech giant uses review teams around the world to analyse and annotate some recordings gathered from…
Quarter of Brits struggle to get gadgets to work, reckons Which?
A quarter of British adults struggle to get their new gadgets to work. New research from Which? shows that just over one in four (27%) adults who received a tech gift this year at Christmas had problems using their gift. And just over in four (28%) of us were still trying to get their tech up…
Half of us now using smart speakers, Accenture study finds
Half of online consumers globally now use digital voice assistants, or smart speakers, with emerging markets leading the way in adoption. This comes after Amazon announced that it had been selling out of its popular digital voice assistant over the festive period and that 100m devices have now been sold around the world Standalone voice assistants – or…
