quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:

quote:

There is absolutely no way the Government, Google or anyone else can listen in on 300 million people's daily lives. It's logistically impossible

They can't listen in live to everybody, but they can record it, convert to metadata, and store it in a database so it's fully indexed and searchable. In an earlier life I was a DBA...it's pretty amazing how much you can do, and how quickly and precisely, with modern database technology. Add to that the current technology available for converting speech to text and photo recognition, etc., and it gets downright scary.

No, there's not some guy in a black suit and tie in a van somewhere listening to your family eat dinner right now...but if they decide to next week, they could go back and do so. They can also set flags for keywords to bring stuff to their attention, or trigger other actions. It's already openly being used for targeted advertising, and it's very effective...imagine if that same tech was leveraged for mass surveillance of the population.

Not trying to change the tinfoil hat down any tighter, but the tech already exists, it's all in how its leveraged. I for one am not inviting Alexa into my home.

Yep. And its not just what you’re saying and doing at home. Before retiring, I worked for a very large megacorp.

The amount of data collected on Americans, who’s collecting it, who’s buying it, and how it’s used, is scary.

Sorry to derail your thread, but I think if people knew how data is already being used to manipulate us, people would think twice before inviting Big Tech into their homes.

quote:

Originally posted by CoolRich59:

quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:

quote:

There is absolutely no way the Government, Google or anyone else can listen in on 300 million people's daily lives. It's logistically impossible

They can't listen in live to everybody, but they can record it, convert to metadata, and store it in a database so it's fully indexed and searchable. In an earlier life I was a DBA...it's pretty amazing how much you can do, and how quickly and precisely, with modern database technology. Add to that the current technology available for converting speech to text and photo recognition, etc., and it gets downright scary.

No, there's not some guy in a black suit and tie in a van somewhere listening to your family eat dinner right now...but if they decide to next week, they could go back and do so. They can also set flags for keywords to bring stuff to their attention, or trigger other actions. It's already openly being used for targeted advertising, and it's very effective...imagine if that same tech was leveraged for mass surveillance of the population.

Not trying to change the tinfoil hat down any tighter, but the tech already exists, it's all in how its leveraged. I for one am not inviting Alexa into my home.

Yep. And its not just what you’re saying and doing at home. Before retiring, I worked for a very large megacorp.

The amount of data collected on Americans, who’s collecting it, who’s buying it, and how it’s used, is scary.

Sorry to derail your thread, but I think if people knew how data is already being used to manipulate us, people would think twice before inviting Big Tech into their homes.

The average American will compromise near all of their rights and safety for convenience. As illustrated in this thread, and so many other places.

quote:

Originally posted by Beancooker:
I’m not a fan of electronics listening to me. I have “hello Siri” turned off on all the Apple devices.

Obviously if Siri is set up to listen in on you, then it's also set up so it can't be turned off. So, Siri is still listening to everything you say unless you take a hammer and pound the cell phone into bits.

And Android users are in pretty much the same position with Google Assistant.

quote:

Originally posted by CoolRich59:
Yep. And its not just what you’re saying and doing at home. Before retiring, I worked for a very large megacorp.

The amount of data collected on Americans, who’s collecting it, who’s buying it, and how it’s used, is scary.

Sorry to derail your thread, but I think if people knew how data is already being used to manipulate us, people would think twice before inviting Big Tech into their homes.

If you can be manipulated that easily, I don't have a lot of compassion for you.

I do not like the government obtaining personal information about me, but the ability for them to do so is and has been in place for some time. Simply talking on a cell phone exposes nearly everyone to some form of potential data gathering. /See Edward Snowden/ Do they do that today? They say not, and I suppose they'd say not to other devices (Alexa) as well. It boils down to do you believe and trust those with the magic listening button (more than just the government) to keep their finger off of it?

All that considered, if I wanted an Alexa type appliance, I'd get one and just be mindful that when you talk on one, or it listens, you are basically talking in public. Currently I don't need or want such a device so not an issue for me. I guess each needs to balance the convince with the potential loss of privacy.

That of course doesn't answer OP's question as to which is best. "IF" I were to get one, I'd probably lean towards the Apple HomePod mini since we are pretty well invested in the Apple ecosystem and their system seems reasonably secure Of all of the offerings and I would least trust the ones from Google.