Voice Activation
Voice-activated smart speakers, like Apple Home Pods, Google Nest, and Amazon Echo, are commonly found in many households. These devices employ AI software such as Siri, Alexa, and Google, which activate when you use specific wake words, such as “Hey, Siri” or “Hey, Alexa.” Once awakened, these devices listen for instructions and promptly respond.
However, the dark side of personal assistants and technology, in general, is the potential for these devices to listen in when they haven’t been explicitly activated by the wake word. This scenario raises concerns among users who feel their privacy may be compromised.
Manufacturers of smart speakers have reassured customers that they are continuously working to improve wake word accuracy and update features to enhance user security. Instances of these devices being inadvertently triggered and collecting data when the wake word wasn’t spoken underscore the importance of being vigilant about our privacy.
