Even your cell phone can listen to what is said in its vicinity.
Not only can it listen, it does, even when it’s not supposed to. And their AI continually monitors and makes marketing suggestions.
Just a few of my examples:
My phone is the only device with location turned on, so I can use maps via Android Auto when traveling. I left the house one day without my phone for an errand, and when I returned my phone asked me about my visit with that retailer. I was being tracked, via my Ford Escape’s satellite system, even without my phone in the car.
I was discussing what to put under out cat boxes at our new house, and I suggested the WeatherTech mats for the house. I had ordered from WT years ago, but opted out of emails long ago. By the time I got back to my computer I had a marketing email from them, and the first suggestion was the mats we were just discussing.
Last, just two weeks ago I was sitting in my car waiting for the wife, who was shopping. I had the phone plugged in with maps on the display, and a suggestion for a podcast about intermittent fasting came up. I do restricted eating, a form of intermittent fasting, and we were just discussing that with friends the day prior.
It’s everywhere — you can’t stop it. And I’m certain AI is making these suggestions. They’re far too specific, tailored and sudden for “human hands” to be involved.
Not without depleting the battery at the same rate it does when you are conversing. An idle cell phone sends a ping to the tower every few seconds. In conversation it must send a message to the tower every .020 seconds, which is 50 per second. The battery drain is noticeable.