Okay Alexa, mirror mirror on the wall, what is traffic like? The 2018 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is in progress and so far, Amazon has let loose a bevy of Alexa powered announcements. No longer content with simply being on your counter or nightstand, Alexa powered tech will soon be in everything from your television to your refrigerator to your mirror. Yes, your mirror in the bathroom will soon be powered by Alexa. Just like a classic George Orwell book, we will have "smart glass" available.
You don't have to be a conspiracy theorist to be afraid of this encroachment of technology into our lives. Amazon is a company that thrives on technology and information. They make money both ways here - they turn a profit off of licensing Alexa to companies such as Panasonic (for a new line of Blu-Ray players) and LG (refrigerators and even microwaves) among others that will use the "Powered by Alexa" gimmick as a selling point. Then Amazon makes money off of what they can sell you useing Alexa and the data that they are able to collect from your activities.
Don't think for a second that Amazon is not cataloging what you watch via their streaming service - Netflix has already admitted to doing this so they can better serve content (theirs and that of others) to customers. Amazon dones this as well, except I have never ordered a computer component via Netflix, I have with Amazon.
Continuing the "fun" of CES 2018, there are projectors, refrigerators, microwaves, televisions, even smart mirrors that will all be powered by Alexa. The media is already touting the Alexa Mirror as a time saver - simply ask for the traffic report, or weather, while shaving, or taking a shower, or making use of the toilet.
Am I the only one that sees a problem with this encroachement of technology? Is it too late to sound the alarm at this invasion of privacy?
I know, I should simply not buy it if I don't want it around. If only it was that easy. Samsung was caught sneaking microphones into some of their smart tv's years ago and only made mention that the device was listening for keywords in the user manual - not in the advertising, not on the box -only in the legal section at the front/back in small print, where it would be easily missed.
Keep that in mind when you are chomping at the bit for the latest technology. What are you giving up for it?
Source: Pocket-Lint