Alexa
Yesterday a text message from Amazon invited us to update to Alexa Plus. The change was swiftly accomplished, and it was put through its paces.
I think it takes slightly longer to respond, though Barry doesn't agree - he says it's quicker in switching - and is more verbose. The voice is pleasant and it's much better at compound questions. It asks if it can help with further enquiries and when told, ‘No’ it responds with comments like, ‘No problem,’ or ‘Fair enough,’ or ‘Right, then, catch you later.’ These reactions could prove irritating if often repeated.
‘Conversations’ are startlingly realistic and some information is accurate. I commented that it sounds realistic, and it answered that it was ‘a digital assistant and couldn’t make a cup of tea to save its circuit.’
I tested its knowledge of Ocicats. It had no idea about them, which I found surprising, as it’s a breed that has existed for more than sixty years. It talked about the Australian Mist cat, instead.
Barry reported a bug, (glitch or gremlin) which was acknowledged and eradicated quickly. He remarked that he was impressed by the speed of its response, and it thanked him. He then asked for the square root of a negative number. It was almost correct in its answer, but it said the square root of 9, for example, was 3i, rather than the square root of minus 9 is 3i. After that, he asked about the absolute value of pi, but had to correct it to recognise that pi is not a rational number and has an infinite number of decimal points. Once again, it thanked him for the correction.
We use Alexa for timers, lists, reminders, weather, and the control of home devices. Alexa Plus is entertaining, and loquacious, but not foolproof. Just as people need to understand the basics of mathematical calculations before relying on a calculator, Alexa Plus and its older sibling, Alexa, should be used advisedly.
Be aware, too, that it is listening all the time, so don’t reveal any secrets. You never know who else might be paying attention!
We don't have alexa. I know we're behind the times.
ReplyDeleteYou won't be caught out, anyway. 😊
DeleteI've been using Alexa Plus for a few months now. Sometimes I tell her to shut up, but she does sound real.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
I'm quite offended now, to realise we've only just been invited. 😂🤣
DeleteOur house is digital assistant free, but I rely heavily on my smart phone.
ReplyDeleteOur Alexas clang all day long for various things.
DeleteThat last comment is why I don't have digi critters in the house. I don't want anyone listening in. They'd be bored if they did, but it's the principle of the thing.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Boud! You expressed perfectly why I get so annoyed when I'm teaching about privacy protection and people say "I have nothing to hide". We ALL have something to hide - it's about the principle of privcy, not what kind of boring or exciting information could be found out about us.
DeleteI take the point. However, our privacy is compromised all the time we walk down the street or into a shop, with CCTV all around. It's true that the information is largely visual, but it makes a nonsense of the 'rules' that photographs may not be taken. when every other person carries and uses a smart 'phone to photograph and film other citizens, maybe accidentally or unintentionally, but without their permission. We have very little actual privacy outside our homes. Even inside them, our computers, tablets, iPhones have listening devices.
DeleteAlexa hasn't talked to me for months. I guess she didn't appreciate my vast library of insults and sailor slang when she repeatedly responded incorrectly and wouldn't shut up when told to.
ReplyDeleteYou've silenced her - quite an achievement.
DeleteThat is scary that it is listening all the time. I have one in every room.
ReplyDeleteIt's a convenient digital assistant. You should be safe as long as you don't expose any state secrets!
DeleteI stopped using Alexa. Maybe I should start again
ReplyDeleteIt's not useful for everyone. It happens to be a useful tool for us.
DeleteIt probably won't surprise you to read that I do not have Alexa, and don't want one. My Mum and my sister have them, and while I acknowledge their usefulness, everything they tell them can be just as easily found out by looking it up on the internet. The only thing I like about the device is that it can play music when you ask, but you need to know how to ask or you'll end up with a playlist you don't like at all and that has not much in common with what you asked for.
ReplyDeleteWe use ours mainly for organisation. As you say, information can be found by other means and cross-referenced.
DeleteI don't know anything about these gadgets. I manage well without. I have lots of fun in life too. Rachel
ReplyDeleteLife is simpler without too many gadgets.
DeleteWe've never had an Alexa...
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't advocate for it either way. Half my family have it, half don't and won't.
DeleteYmmm, I'd be afraid to speak in case it was listening!
ReplyDelete😂🤣
DeleteAlexa sounds just like the toy my husband would love. I don't think we will ever have one. I don't know of anyone around here that has an Alexa. Amazing what it can do, and hear
ReplyDeleteIt's useful for reminders, of which we have many. I doubt I would have one, were it not for my technophile husband.
DeleteI would not have an Alexa, purely from a privacy point of view. Even home security cameras that store video footage of your home have been known to share their secrets elsewhere!!
ReplyDeleteThere's little privacy anywhere. Read an online paper and then wonder at the advertisements and suggestions that 'suddenly' pop up, in response to what are regarded as 'your' interests.
Delete"listening all the time" exactly why I will never have an Alexa or anything similar.
ReplyDeleteIt's surprising how many 'innocent' devices are quietly monitoring us. I could become quite paranoid . . .
DeleteI wouldn't want anything in my home that is constantly listening, however I am not convinced that laptops don't do that anyway. It is amazing how often a conversation about something random seems to result in ads for that same thing appearing a day or so later.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Tracy. It happens too often to be coincidence.
DeleteNo Alexa or equivalent here, although my smart TV is listening sometimes - a pop up says "what do you want to ask". There is a word to say before asking a question but I can't remember what it is!
ReplyDeleteI can remember people putting a sticking plaster over the computer camera as they thought it was watching them, perhaps it is?
Impossible to be invisible nowadays I think
I laughed at the sticking plaster, but understand the fear. It amazes me that someone I don't know can know instantly who I am when I 'phone them, before I've told them my name. Not everyone all the time, of course, but often enough.
DeleteWe have Alexa plus for much the same reasons as you, everything listens to you these days, hubby was looking at city breaks in Paris on his phone, without saying a word, before you know it, ads are showing on my phone. We are never alone.....
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely right.
DeleteI have no idea who Alexa is.
ReplyDeleteThat's the first mistake. Alexa is a digital device.
ReplyDeleteI don't have Alexa and I'm not sure I would want it. I do use AI and I have to say that anything like this is only as good as the creator. It's certainly not infallible
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely right. It's not infallible.
ReplyDeleteIt can be useful ti winder about something and just call out for an answer. It’s 1C right now, going up to 5, with probably some rain this afternoon. It was much quicker and more convenient that sleuthing on my own in the old way.
ReplyDeleteThat's how we tend to use it. It's very convenient.
DeleteYou are such a modern Millie. I made a failed attempt today to convert spoken word to a text message. You have to say 'stop' at the end of sentence, as I've learnt.
ReplyDeleteBelieve me, my natural tendency is to be a Luddite, but the technophile in my life has 'educated' me.
DeleteWow! One of our Alexa's has taken to stopping telling time about lunchtime. You can ask her and she'll tell the correct time but won't display it. Very odd.
ReplyDeleteIt's irritating when it won't do as it's told. Have you told it to wake up?
DeleteI don't use Alexa or Siri for the reason of being spied on.
ReplyDelete🕵️🥸
DeleteAlexa is amazing
ReplyDeleteI've forgotten how to switch on lights . . . 😉😏
DeleteI found Alexa plus to be way superior to the original Alexa. I've had some interesting conversations with it although we haven't tested it on anything more than basic math. I use the timer function daily. The quality of factual answers can vary. Yes, I'm aware that both Alexa and Siri can spy on you and are always listening but others of our apps could be doing the same thing, including neighborhood doorbell cameras. It's a valid concern, though.
ReplyDeleteExactly so. We are spied on more than we realise.
Deletethe only Alexa I would have is one that could be a caregiver and take care of my two toddlers....
ReplyDeleteRobots are coming on . . .
ReplyDeleteI barely speak to Siri on my phone so I would not want an Alexa in my house listening to me!
ReplyDeleteI've never spoken to Siri!
DeleteWe don't have Alexa. And I don't use Siri either. I can't stand the thought of some device listening to me. (But for some reason I have no qualms about blogging my life on the Internet!)
ReplyDeleteIt's odd how we can be so laissez-faire about some things and yet concerned about others. It's a question of how comfortable one feels.
DeleteNo alexa here and we don't have siri. Glad it works well for you.
ReplyDeleteHalf my family uses Alexa, and half doesn't. Horses for courses . . .
ReplyDeleteNo Alexa here ... but some of the younger family members use it.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Young children love it, and I can understand parents not wishing to have Alexa. Certainly, my youngest daughter will not have one in her house!
DeleteI would rather have a digital assistant called Janice. She would have a silly smooth voice, perfect manners and widespread knowledge about most things. "Janice! What is a lie?"
ReplyDelete'a silly smooth voice' ? Some people like my voice, others do not, but it's never been called 'silly' - not to my face, anyway! 🤣😂
DeleteIt sounds like it's a bit of entertainment in your house lol
ReplyDeleteIt's non-stop fun and games here . . . 😏😉
ReplyDeleteBig Brother is listening to you!!
ReplyDelete