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Google speakers are listening to more than just voice commands

protocol.com

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Re: Google speakers are listening to more than just voice commands

#41

Post by itsoktocry »

sukilot wrote: post #34
dannyw wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google, without notice, intentionally started listening to something that wasn't a wake word (glass breaking). How is this 'pretty boring'?

It's an obvious enhancement to a home monitoring product users paid money for, specifically for this purpose. https://www.blog.google/products/google-nest/5-things-know-a... Google added smoke alarm sound detection to a product that users bought specifically for "smart" smoke alarms and "smart" audiovideo recording of their home

>It's an obvious enhancement to a home monitoring product users paid money for, specifically for this purpose.

And yet it was turned on for people who did not pay for the service, or give permission to Google to do so. Which means they can listen in whenever they feel like and chalk it up to "whoops, pushed the wrong code, sorry!" apparently.

Re: Google speakers are listening to more than just voice commands

#42

Post by anmorgan »

dsr_ wrote: post #5
polote wrote: post #3

How could people on HN be surprised about that kind of thing ?

We would all be surprised if it turns out that a giant corporation who sells you always-on networked microphones wasn't abusing it in any way, shape or form. Here's a slippery slope for you: 1. "OK Google, order pizza from Sal's." 2. "Broken glass detected in living room. Should I call police?" 3. "The baby has been crying for more than 60 minutes. Do you want assistance?" 4. "Shots fired. Calling 911 now." 2016-2020…

I would disagree that example is a slippery slope, but more of a leap across a vast canyon.

Going from providing information and requesting an action, to making an automated decision and action, is much more difficult as you pointed out. Therefore I'd be very surprised to see this actually occur.

Re: Google speakers are listening to more than just voice commands

#43

Post by mellow2020 »

paulcole wrote: post #24
beardedwizard wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

you can't imagine the problem of having your private conversations recorded, then a business compelled to release them without a warrant? You can't imagine what inferences might be made about your personal conversations and sold to others? I do not think you are giving the words you say enough credit.

Of course I can imagine those problems! Those problems are brought up literally every time I mention that in-home speakers are not the end-of-the-world-nightmare-scenario so many people treat them as. I just don’t particularly care. Also if someone wants to cut out the middleman and buy my personal conversations directly, feel free to reach out. Great value! Last night I talked about weed and Top Chef!

So, not caring because because oneself is not being persecuted at this minute, and determined to err on the side of being no threat to any criminals or people who persecute others, ever, and to hand that "value" down the generations. I could get more eloquent descriptions of that argument from history books, and don't even care for those.

Re: Google speakers are listening to more than just voice commands

#45

Post by Swizec »

sukilot wrote: post #31
michaelcampbell wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Watching an unusually well-Foleyed action movie on a good sound system can probably fool any recognition system Google can jam into next year's $150 smart speaker. Sure, but pair that with "Shazam!" style song recognition and now it knows you're watching a movie, and what movie it is, and can more easily filter for false positives there, no?

Do you want to bet your life on whether someone found that feature idea exciting enough for a promotion project at work? Even if the feature works perfectly, were still talking about (hypothetically, as this isn't a real feature yet) automatically summoning a platoon of people with the de facto legal right to kill you if they send danger which is exactly the reason they were called just because a potentially dangerou…

> the de facto legal right to kill you

This seems like the bigger problem. Calling the cops shouldn’t be dangerous.

It seems to me that if cops were better behaved a feature that automatically calls them when you might need help would be fantastic.

Imagine if Google could detect that you’re alone and choking or having a medical emergency. Woule be cool if it could get you help.

Re: Google speakers are listening to more than just voice commands

#46

Post by sp332 »

polote wrote: post #3

How could people on HN be surprised about that kind of thing ?

A Google spokesperson told Protocol that the feature was accidentally enabled for some users through a recent software update and has since been rolled back.

"Surprise" is not relevant. This is holding Google accountable for shady shit, which is something we should never stop doing.

Re: Google speakers are listening to more than just voice commands

#47

Post by pabe »

paul_f wrote: post #16

There is a big difference between smoke alarm detection built into the wake-up-word circuitry, versus every sound sent to Google's servers for analysis. I am not bothered by the former, but would be aghast at the latter. Does anyone know for sure?

Most likely, an AI model that detects specific sounds is running directly on those devices. No need to transfer anything to Google's servers for analysis =)

Re: Google speakers are listening to more than just voice commands

#48

Post by casefields »

pickledcods wrote: post #35
dsr_ wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We would all be surprised if it turns out that a giant corporation who sells you always-on networked microphones wasn't abusing it in any way, shape or form. Here's a slippery slope for you: 1. "OK Google, order pizza from Sal's." 2. "Broken glass detected in living room. Should I call police?" 3. "The baby has been crying for more than 60 minutes. Do you want assistance?" 4. "Shots fired. Calling 911 now." 2016-2020…

5. "Your kids are having sex, Shall I ask if they are using a condom?"

That would be pretty funny and creepy. Similar to a father being told his teen daughter was pregnant by Target.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2012/02/16/how-targ...

Awkward.

Re: Google speakers are listening to more than just voice commands

#49

Post by feralimal »

How surprised would you be if in 5 years there was a Snowden-type revelation, that yes, the speakers and Facebook/Insta apps, Amazon echo, etc, etc, were listening all the time?

Sorry.

And that there was a secret court ruling that meant all that data was live-streamed to NSA Utah.

Not surprised at all, is the answer.

Re: Google speakers are listening to more than just voice commands

#50

Post by titzer »

paulcole wrote: post #24
beardedwizard wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

you can't imagine the problem of having your private conversations recorded, then a business compelled to release them without a warrant? You can't imagine what inferences might be made about your personal conversations and sold to others? I do not think you are giving the words you say enough credit.

Of course I can imagine those problems! Those problems are brought up literally every time I mention that in-home speakers are not the end-of-the-world-nightmare-scenario so many people treat them as. I just don’t particularly care. Also if someone wants to cut out the middleman and buy my personal conversations directly, feel free to reach out. Great value! Last night I talked about weed and Top Chef!

I hope you never witness a government official commit a crime and consider blowing the whistle.
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