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AIBU?

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Original poster

Fucking Alexa

159 replies

Smitff · 06/01/2017 12:00

Just want to smash her face in.

It's the reasonable and pleasant tone of voice. Makes me sounds like even more of a haranguing nag than I already am.

DH is making this a Big Deal.

I'm considering giving him an ultimatum. Alexa or me.

Fucking twatting gadgets. Sick of them all.

OP posts:
Surreyblah · 07/01/2017 07:24

It's an it, not a "she"!

What data do Amazon get and use from these?

Ironic that people seek to improve home security (lighting etc) when connected devices are a security risk to the owner and potentially others. A recent cyber attack on companies used connected consumer webcams.

GardeningWithDynamite · 07/01/2017 11:31

I think you can call her Alexa, Echo or Amazon but nothing else at the moment.

We were just looking at writing a skill for her, but unfortunately you can't make any money off them yet.

Allalonenow · 07/01/2017 11:32

When Alexa has your shopping list does she transfer it to Amazon groceries, or print it out, or send it to Ocado, or .....?

Formerpigwrestler9 · 07/01/2017 11:50

What data do Amazon get and use from these?
Its the all hearing ear, all sounds are recorded and will be stored on a server in case they can be of use in the future for profiling people or whatever

Next will be things with sensors to detect movement and constant 3d mapping surveillance of your home

Large scale data on exactly what people do and say in their homes will be very useful to government and large organisations, they'll be able to get a picture of the general mood of the population, all the Better to control and manipulate it.
And it will enable them to zoom in on any individuals for closer scrutiny.

Obviously criminals will also be very interested iin this data.

But don't worry about any of that, it sounds fun and extremely useful, what's not to like

Formerpigwrestler9 · 07/01/2017 11:54

It's an it, not a "she"!
Humans anthropomorphize at the drop of a hat, we see it as a personal friend with desires and intentions, a conscious being
it is of course a tool which enables amazon to collect data from customers which can be used to maximise profits and market share

MyWineTime · 07/01/2017 12:55

Yeah but now amazon is listening to you 24/7
No, it has the same listening functionality as your phone. You have to wake it up by saying "Alexa" in order for it to listen to your instructions. Just like Siri, Cortana or OK Google

pklme · 07/01/2017 13:07

There was a case where the court tried to subpoena information from Echo after a murder. They wanted to know what had gone on that day in the apartment. Apparently the vast majority of actual recording is only kept for seconds, then forgotten when the request has been dealt with. The request alexa hears is stored though, I think. So they would know what songs are popular etc, but not what happened in the house at X time or which voice requested the track.

Formerpigwrestler9 · 07/01/2017 13:33

So trusting, so obedient

kel12345 · 07/01/2017 13:43

Okay so when I read the title I thought Alexa was a person who had made you extremely angry or upset..
I really need to know more about gadgets and technology..

FuzzyWizard · 07/01/2017 13:45

There's nothing that a hacker could do by hacking into the Echo that couldn't be done by hacking into one of our smartphones. I don't see it as being any more of a security risk than a smartphone and pretty much everyone I see now seems to have one of those.

sleepachu · 07/01/2017 13:59

I don't see the point in them really, but have never got into toys for adults.
I'd be a bit ashamed and put off a man who was into this sort of stuff, sorry.

Hahahaha. Sorry for what, hen Grin

2017watchoutherewecome · 07/01/2017 14:06

I won't have one unless you can change the name and gender, two Alexas in the same house would be too complicated, though she'd be welcome to answer the inane interesting questions that Dh asks me.

ConvincingLiar · 07/01/2017 14:33

Our new one (we have 3 now) randomly told a joke earlier. Don't know why.

Grilledaubergines · 07/01/2017 17:41

YABU we love our Alexa.

I chat to her when every other fucker in this house is too busy to give me the time of day. I never get any attitude off her. And I can call her from 2 rooms away or upstairs and she still has the decency to reply.

TheCatsMother99 · 07/01/2017 17:53

Mine has serious attitude, she ignores me most the time when I ask her to turn the light on or the radio etc but she will answer my husband every time. I'm sure they're having an affair.

Notso · 07/01/2017 17:54

What does it do?

FontSnob · 07/01/2017 17:58

I love Alexa, she plays my YouTube videos loudly so I can hear the buttercream recipe instructions over the sound of the cake mixer. (I'm not sure if that sounds like I'm trapped in 1950 or 2050). She also farts if you ask her.

JanetStWalker · 07/01/2017 18:23

Bloody hell all this technology, I'm still mesmerised by my dimmer switches Blush

camtt · 07/01/2017 18:35

haven't read all the posts, but I like Alexa when she works, but it's a right pain in the neck when the internet connection is on the blink (often). I'm not the gadget woman here, it's DH - I don't like that Alexa means I am dependent on DH (who keeps the whole system running) for trivial things like turning on the radio and the flipping lights (because as well as being on Alexa the lights have their own new gadget).

Mintybuttons · 07/01/2017 18:37

I asked Alexa if my bum looked big in this and after a moment she told me that she was sure that I looked just fine.
If Alexa said it, it must be true ...😉

SecretWitch · 07/01/2017 18:42

I feel the same about Siri. Sometimes when she is giving me directions, I go opposite just to piss her off.

EatSpamAmandaLamb · 07/01/2017 19:03

I love a bit of tech and think some of the capabilities would be fantastic for times when my chronic illnesses flare up. However I find the recording capabilities and where this could all lead to very disconcerting.

phoenixnix · 07/01/2017 19:38

Ours randomly told us a joke whilst we were watching eastenders the other day. Went into the app to see what she thought she'd been asked and there was audio of eastenders - something to do with max and Jack which she obviously misheard as Alexa and joke!

NewYearStinkyPants · 07/01/2017 19:45

We have an Alexa in our house, but she's a person and not a "tool".

megletthesecond · 07/01/2017 19:59

Skynet.

Just saying.