Voice Assistants

Google, Amazon and Apple may start listening in your living room all in the name of convenience and targeted advertising.

17:00 13 June 2016

Google, Amazon and Apple are working on or have announced voice assistants designed for home use. Much like Siri, they can be used to collect information or can be programmed to operate various parts of the house.

 

Although they represent the future of technology, the idea that any company is listening to every conversation inside the house can be terrifying for most people. However, this is already happening regularly with Google and Facebook listening in on their users, for example, to help find useful information and for targeted advertising.

 

This concern might become more pressing as voice assistants are coming to your living room soon. Google launched its Home speaker last month while Amazon has the same technology that has been available for months. Apple, on the other hand, is rumoured to be working on something similar.

 

In the coming months, users will be faced to choose between privacy or convenience. Those who choose to steer clear from voice assistants can have peace of mind knowing that their privacy is protected but may miss out important information or functions that can make their lives more easier.