What's Alexa?
Long time techie here...
Alexa and Google Home are as described above. However, I challenge the
AI attribute.
They are more akin to listening and surveillance devices that have interactive response capabilities.
One: They
ARE monitoring 24/7.
Two: The are supposed to react
AFTER when they recognize the initiation phrase: "Alexa" or "Hey Google."
Three: There are
NO guarantees your actions/comments/statements/rants are not tracked.
Four: A real-world example - My DIL joked about jumping off a cliff. Unprompted, Alexa chimed in with suicide prevention contact information.
I was an early adopter of Alexa but dumped it and went to Google Home. Connecting devices to Alexa was challenging. Connnecting to Google Home is near plug-and-play.
Happy to discuss in detail if anyone wants to know more about how Alexa and Google Home work and their ultimate commercial goal(s).
Finally, blatant self-promotion...
One of the plot lines in my new Noir novella series is the topic of privacy and ubiquitous surveillance. In the US of A, there is no longer an expectation of privacy.
Cheers,
R.C.
PS: The name of the series is: Aydin Trammell. The title of part one is: Ptarmigan Lane.