4 ms·

How do you know you’re in control?

• 6gvONxR4sf7o 7y ago
  I don't. It's a spectrum. I don't know that an old-school land line phone isn't always listening. But it was made by some disinterested party who just makes hardware. It was a simple logical device designed to rely on a simple mechanical switch. It could be listening, but it's understandable by someone like me and there's no incentive for anyone involved. I don't really know if I'm in control, but it's reasonable to think I am. I don't know that a modern voice assistant isn't always listening either. It is an incredibly complex device usually designed by an entity whose business makes hundreds of millions of dollars based off of the inspection of the personal data of people like me. It is a complex full functioning computer. It uses a statistical algorithm that I know will incorrectly activate sometimes. I cannot understand or predict when it will listen. I cannot understand or predict when it will send a recording somewhere. It receives updates frequently. Because it's a full computer with an internet connection, those updates could make it do a huge variety of things. I know I'm not in control.
  • mikeash 7y ago
    This seems reasonable, but a cell phone would be close to a voice assistant on this spectrum, or even in the same place.
    • 6gvONxR4sf7o 7y ago
      Yup. E.g. Siri