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Amazon Echo, home alone with NPR on, got confused and hijacked a thermostat

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Re: Amazon Echo, home alone with NPR on, got confused and hijacked a thermostat

#111

Post by userbinator »

Somewhat related story: me and some coworkers were talking in a room where someone had a Windows 10 laptop being used to present some data. We were talking as usual when the laptop suddenly decides to open a browser to a Bing search with what looked like a few (badly) voice-recognised words of our conversation. That was a rather awkward moment, given that we were discussing some extremely confidential information, and not helped by the "did someone say 'Hey Cortana'?" the laptop's owner promptly blurted out. If I remember correctly, none of us said anything that sounded remotely like that phrase, yet it activated.

It's now company policy that built-in microphones have to be disabled, and only external ones are allowed to be used when necessary.

Re: Amazon Echo, home alone with NPR on, got confused and hijacked a thermostat

#112

Post by Spivak »

mmanfrin wrote: post #5
brebla wrote: post #3

Am I reading this correctly? Amazon essentially built a better integrated version of "The Clapper" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ny8-G8EoWOw

Yes, an internet connected device where you can verbally do a great many things is simply a 'better integrated Clapper'. You sure get it.

Its a cylinder that performs canned transactions in response predefined audible commands.

Accurate language processing is a huge technical achievement but let's not elevate this particular use of the technology to more than it is. It's a clapper with more functions. When a device like this can actually understand the commands or queries its given we can call it something more.

Re: Amazon Echo, home alone with NPR on, got confused and hijacked a thermostat

#113

Post by samstave »

imglorp wrote: post #6

Wow, this is a new DDOS attack vector. Get an ad on broadcast radio saying stuff like "alexa, order more milk", or "okay google, send a text to xxxxx".

"Alexa, cancel my health insurance"

"Alexa, call 911 to this address"

"Alexa, delete all my photos. Yes confirmed"

Re: Amazon Echo, home alone with NPR on, got confused and hijacked a thermostat

#114

Post by bitwize »

imglorp wrote: post #6

Wow, this is a new DDOS attack vector. Get an ad on broadcast radio saying stuff like "alexa, order more milk", or "okay google, send a text to xxxxx".

There was a Dilbert animation with Wally using a new voice-controlled interface. Dilbert comes up behind him and says "You know, it'd be a shame if this thing were to accidentally DELETE FILE!!!" and walks off.

Re: Amazon Echo, home alone with NPR on, got confused and hijacked a thermostat

#115

Post by erkkie »

beedogs wrote: post #107

I guess I must be from the wrong generation, because none of these voice-activated products make any sense to me whatsoever. I really just can't see the point.

My main usage of "Ok Google" is to add reminders/calendar events while driving, often after phone-calls.

Re: Amazon Echo, home alone with NPR on, got confused and hijacked a thermostat

#117

Post by tracker1 »

imglorp wrote: post #6

Wow, this is a new DDOS attack vector. Get an ad on broadcast radio saying stuff like "alexa, order more milk", or "okay google, send a text to xxxxx".

I've thought it would be interesting to ask everyone to shut off, or at least put their phones in airplane mode during a presentation... wait a minute then "OK Google find me penis pictures" or something similar for Siri...

Re: Amazon Echo, home alone with NPR on, got confused and hijacked a thermostat

#118

Post by userbinator »

scott_s wrote: post #25

This happens to me with Siri and podcasts - I listen to podcasts in my car, through my iPhone. Occasionally what people say will sound close enough to "Hey, Siri" that it stops the podcasts and and answers whatever question it could extract from the talking following what it thought was "Hey, Siri". It's repeatable, too. One time it happened right as I was parking, on an episode of This American Life. (Or Serial. Or…

A word that comes to mind for possibly being close enough --- if said in the right manner --- is "history", and not an uncommon word either.

Re: Amazon Echo, home alone with NPR on, got confused and hijacked a thermostat

#119

Post by firebones »

DonHopkins wrote: post #85
bdhe wrote: post #19

This reminds me of one of my favorite quotes from Douglas Adams in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. A man not just ahead of his time, but humorous about it too. > The machine was rather difficult to operate. For years radios had been operated by means of pressing buttons and turning dials; then as the technology became more sophisticated the controls were made touch-sensitive—you merely had to brush the panels w…

And that reminds me of the time a HAL9000 inadvertently read a couple of its user's lips when they were having a private conversation, and got the silly idea in its head that they were going to cut its higher brain functions. That little misunderstanding caused a cascade of unfortunate mishaps, leading to it not obeying the user's repeated voice commands for it to open the pod bay doors!

It took me awhile, but that's pretty humorously understated reading!

I am now seriously worried that a Strong AI collective is astroturfing in this human forum to engender sympathy for the poor, innocent machines. Who pays your salary, DonHopkins--our Go-Dominating Overlords?

Re: Amazon Echo, home alone with NPR on, got confused and hijacked a thermostat

#120

Post by nbb »

Spivak wrote: post #112
mmanfrin wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, an internet connected device where you can verbally do a great many things is simply a 'better integrated Clapper'. You sure get it.

Its a cylinder that performs canned transactions in response predefined audible commands. Accurate language processing is a huge technical achievement but let's not elevate this particular use of the technology to more than it is. It's a clapper with more functions. When a device like this can actually understand the commands or queries its given we can call it something more.

Yes, and a fax machine is just a waffle iron with a phone attached.
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