Posted on 12/21/2018 8:30:00 AM PST by Red Badger
Millions of users of Amazon’s Echo speakers have grown accustomed to the soothing strains of Alexa, the human-sounding virtual assistant that can tell them the weather, order takeout and handle other basic tasks in response to a voice command.
So a customer was shocked last year when Alexa blurted out: “Kill your foster parents.”
Alexa has also chatted with users about sex acts. She gave a discourse on dog defecation. And this summer, a hack Amazon traced back to China may have exposed some customers’ data, according to five people familiar with the events.
Alexa is not having a breakdown.
The episodes, previously unreported, arise from Amazon.com Inc’s strategy to make Alexa a better communicator. New research is helping Alexa mimic human banter and talk about almost anything she finds on the internet. However, ensuring she does not offend users has been a challenge for the world’s largest online retailer.
At stake is a fast-growing market for gadgets with virtual assistants. An estimated two-thirds of U.S. smart-speaker customers, about 43 million people, use Amazon’s Echo devices, according to research firm eMarketer. It is a lead the company wants to maintain over the Google Home from Alphabet Inc and the HomePod from Apple Inc.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
And email Laurie David & Sheryl Crow about your tp usage.
Unmutual!
[Number Two - The Prisoner]
Heh!
As I said, it was long ago and think I was around 17 -20; my daily ‘medicinal herb’ consumption was off the charts, so the memories are a little less than precise.
Probably need to add that to the Kindle list. Thanks, FRiend!
The sequel has a few twists and turns and a great surprise ending. You will enjoy it!..................
Awesome! Happy New Year, RB!
And to you and yours as well!......................
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