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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: TexasGator
It seems weird that it matters so much to you. I reserve the right to misinterpret/misread/read-between-the-lines/interpolate/extrapolate anything the way I choose. I'm as stubborn as you. ;-D

In the words of the magnificent Bugs Bunny, "Is he stubborn enough to open all of those doors?".

81 posted on 12/28/2021 3:02:29 PM PST by GingisK
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To: yesthatjallen

BS Story, fake news.


82 posted on 12/28/2021 3:02:45 PM PST by slouper (LWRC SPR 5.5 6)
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To: dfwgator

“I thought that’s what “Life Alert” was for...”

Life Alert’s monthly monitoring fees range from $69.90 to $89.85 or more depending on which options you choose. They also charge a one-time membership fee of $198

That is about $90,000 over a lifetime.


83 posted on 12/28/2021 3:07:15 PM PST by TexasGator (UF)
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To: GingisK

“Why anyone wants one of those things in the home remains a mystery to me.”

Some people are comforted by the idea that the NSA/FBI/CIA is always monitoring their home.


84 posted on 12/28/2021 3:07:34 PM PST by MercyFlush (DANGER: You are being conditioned to view your freedom as selfish)
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To: yesthatjallen

Apparently Amazon has identified and removed this from the ‘list’ of challenges, and it’s not a hoax or an attempt to shake down Bezos’ Bozos.

But some readers here may not know that it’s possible to create custom answers that Alexa will supply for predefined questions. (Kinda like a Biden press conference…)

You should hear her response when you ask one of my Echo Dots: “Alexa, why do liberals hate President Trump so much?” 😁


85 posted on 12/28/2021 3:08:58 PM PST by DJ Frisat (My tag line, optionally printed after the name on my post…)
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To: GingisK

“It seems weird that it matters so much to you. I reserve the right to misinterpret/misread/read-between-the-lines/interpolate/extrapolate anything the way I choose. I’m as stubborn as you.”

You are the one that made it an issue and keeps posting to me!


86 posted on 12/28/2021 3:09:09 PM PST by TexasGator (UF)
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To: MercyFlush

Agreed. As one of our Founders would say to them, “May your chains chafe lightly upon your wrists”.


87 posted on 12/28/2021 3:11:13 PM PST by GingisK
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To: TexasGator

;-D


88 posted on 12/28/2021 3:11:43 PM PST by GingisK
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To: GingisK

“It seems weird that it matters so much to you”

I gave you the option which you ignored instead going off on a tangent making it personal instead of staying with the facts.


89 posted on 12/28/2021 3:12:05 PM PST by TexasGator (UF)
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To: TexasGator

Door number twelve...


90 posted on 12/28/2021 3:12:46 PM PST by GingisK
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To: frogjerk

The SW on the machine in your home listens all the time but sends no info over the network.

It only uses the network to do voice recognition of the request itself on cloud based computers and formulate a response. They keep that data to improve the cloud based AI.

Fwiw, I won’t have one in my home.


91 posted on 12/28/2021 3:14:33 PM PST by MV=PY (The Magic Question: Who's paying for it?)
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To: dfwgator

Today, it would be the digits on their credit cards.


92 posted on 12/28/2021 3:17:23 PM PST by jmcenanly ("The more corrupt the state, the more laws." Tacitus, Publius Cornelius)
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To: yesthatjallen
One ex-GF's name is Alexa.

I don't need a background machine to constantly pipe up "I will NOT do that!"

93 posted on 12/28/2021 3:17:58 PM PST by Moltke (Reasoning with a liberal is like watering a rock in the hope to grow a building.)
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To: TexasGator

I am.. but I am never writing unintentionally. It may be without a cup of coffee. I do not take my phone every time I leave the house either. There are many conversations that remain no mans land for permanent recording.
Our law used to include informing those who would govern or make legal rooceedings against you with the notion that anything you say can and will be used against you.
Amazon and other devices allow such things. It is learning you, not for your purposes.. then for whose purpose.
If I were ever going to do something like Jan 6.. I wouldn’t post it, text it or anything else. I thought about it, may have even posted about it.
Wouldnt buy travel with a card either.


94 posted on 12/28/2021 3:26:55 PM PST by momincombatboots (Ephesians 6... who you are really at war with. )
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To: GingisK

Oh, yes, I assume so. But it is easy to turn off.


95 posted on 12/28/2021 3:27:39 PM PST by Sans-Culotte (11/3-11/4/2020 - The USA became a banana republic.)
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To: GingisK
Sure it was, unless you and that bloke living five miles away still have land lines.

I read that as:

Sure it was, unless you and that bloke living five miles away still have land mines.

*sigh*

96 posted on 12/28/2021 3:31:23 PM PST by null and void (Unvaccinated=control group, vaccinated=controlLED group...)
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To: TexasGator

How do you type in the selections on your remote?
I look at the guide.. pretty simple.

How does your wife reach you for that last minute item?
We’re retired and go to the store together.

That doesn’t give you the forecast.
I’ve watched forecast and they don’t give me an accurate one either.

Do you whistle for it to come?
Nope, my cell phone is where I left it last and eventually I remember or if necessary I could use the land line and call it myself rather than ask a device to call it for me because I’m to lazy but I prefer to find it eventually.


97 posted on 12/28/2021 3:35:39 PM PST by maddog55 (The only thing systemic in America is the left's hatred of it!)
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To: null and void

That sort of thing adds spice to otherwise boring posts. ;-D


98 posted on 12/28/2021 3:37:07 PM PST by GingisK
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To: rlmorel

LOL, mine speaks with a British accent. When I use the iPhone map GPS it is the same voice. I particularly like to use Siri to set quick timers while grilling so i dont lose precious seconds pulling out the phone and setting it manually.


99 posted on 12/28/2021 3:39:11 PM PST by Sans-Culotte (11/3-11/4/2020 - The USA became a banana republic.)
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To: maddog55

“How do you type in the selections on your remote?
I look at the guide.. pretty simple.”

How long does it take you to find the desired song/album in your guide and how long will you have to wait to hear it played.


100 posted on 12/28/2021 3:40:27 PM PST by TexasGator (UF)
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