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Amazon Alexa slammed for giving lethal challenge to 10-year-old girl
Bleeping Computer ^ | 12 28 2021 | Ax Sharma

Posted on 12/28/2021 1:09:32 PM PST by yesthatjallen

An Amazon Echo owner was left shocked after Alexa proposed a dangerous challenge to her ten-year-old daughter.

AI-powered virtual assistants like Alexa that power smart devices and speakers such as Echo, Echo Dot, and Amazon Tap, come with a plethora of capabilities. These include enabling the users to play simple verbal games or request "challenges" on demand.

A 'shocking' challenge

When sitting idle, such as during the holidays, it wouldn't be unusual for an Amazon Echo owner to ask Alexa, "tell me a challenge to do."

Typically such an auditory request has the AI prompting the user with a quiz question or a similar brainstorming activity.

"The challenge is simple," said Alexa. "Plug in a phone charger about halfway into a wall outlet, then touch a penny to the exposed prongs."

"I was right there and yelled, 'No, Alexa, no!' like it was a dog," said Livdahl, a writer and a worried mother.

"My daughter says she is too smart to do something like that anyway."

SNIP

(Excerpt) Read more at bleepingcomputer.com ...


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: alexa; amazon; challenge
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To: yesthatjallen

Has anyone asked Siri/Alexa...

“Are you a communist?”


161 posted on 12/30/2021 3:48:02 AM PST by newfreep (“Leftism, under all of its brand names, is a severe, violent & evil mental disorder.”)
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To: newfreep
No, but someone aught to do just that.

I asked one to "open the pod bay door". It was a hilarious reply.

162 posted on 12/30/2021 7:57:25 AM PST by GingisK
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To: GingisK

“2001” is one of my all time fav movies...and I’m not a movie buff.

btw....Dave, what was the reply from “HAL”?


163 posted on 12/30/2021 8:12:26 AM PST by newfreep (“Leftism, under all of its brand names, is a severe, violent & evil mental disorder.”)
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To: newfreep

It went something like: “Oh, I am so tired of hearing that trite and ridiculous command. In the first place, you don’t have a pod bay, but perhaps only a garage. Secondly, you haven’t given me control of the garage door.”.


164 posted on 12/30/2021 8:21:00 AM PST by GingisK
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To: maddog55

He won’t stop. He is angry at the entire world and everything in it.


165 posted on 12/30/2021 8:22:07 AM PST by GingisK
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To: yesthatjallen

I did that when I was a kid, only I didn’t use a penny, I used my fingers.

I survived and learned an important lesson.


166 posted on 12/30/2021 8:24:50 AM PST by Fresh Wind (Der impfstoff macht frei. The vaccine will make you free. Your papers, please.)
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To: maddog55

When Einstein was Young his father gave him a compass. He was amazed at how some unseen, unfelt force could penetrate the case and move the needle.

Later, he mused at how something is Strange when first observed but we grow up never wondering about all the mysteries around us.


167 posted on 12/30/2021 9:41:55 AM PST by TexasGator (UF)
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To: reasonisfaith

I used to be really annoyed with those old rotary dial phones. One slip of the finger and was start again.

Redials were a pain.


168 posted on 12/30/2021 9:45:33 AM PST by TexasGator (UF)
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To: GingisK

Not surprised..

He’s apparently offended and wants to cancel me by turning me in... sounds like eerily familiar tactics of the left.


169 posted on 12/30/2021 9:46:09 AM PST by maddog55 (The only thing systemic in America is the left's hatred of it!)
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To: TexasGator

Guessing you lived a sheltered life... Still a dick though.


170 posted on 12/30/2021 9:50:14 AM PST by maddog55 (The only thing systemic in America is the left's hatred of it!)
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To: _Jim

Apparently Alexa serves the same function for humans as a laser pointer does for cats.


171 posted on 12/30/2021 9:50:48 AM PST by piasa (Attitude adjustments offered here free of charge)
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To: maddog55

“Guessing you lived a sheltered life..”

Joined the Navy, saw the world.


172 posted on 12/30/2021 9:55:51 AM PST by TexasGator (UF)
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To: maddog55

“He’s apparently offended and wants to cancel me by turning me in... sounds like eerily familiar tactics of the left.”

LOL! You are paranoid


173 posted on 12/30/2021 10:01:18 AM PST by TexasGator (UF)
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To: piasa

Oh my! That is funny!


174 posted on 12/30/2021 10:23:03 AM PST by GingisK
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To: maddog55

“He’s apparently offended and wants to cancel me by turning me in... sounds like eerily familiar tactics of the left.”

That post is right out of Alinski’s rule book!


175 posted on 12/30/2021 10:28:59 AM PST by TexasGator (UF)
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To: TexasGator

Then we have one thing in common.


176 posted on 12/30/2021 1:21:53 PM PST by maddog55 (The only thing systemic in America is the left's hatred of it!)
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To: rlmorel

Her specialty is special tea?


177 posted on 12/31/2021 4:28:32 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: rlmorel

Cats do better than goats!


178 posted on 12/31/2021 4:29:03 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Mathews

Back in the day, one actually had to make physical contact with the wires that carried your phone messages...


179 posted on 12/31/2021 4:30:19 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: CaptainPhilFan
I would just point out that Siri and Alexa are “it”, not “she”.

So is this person; but many haven't gotten the message yet.


180 posted on 12/31/2021 4:33:04 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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