My Alexa is guessing things about me — and it's getting weird
After Amazon Alexa correctly guessed my dog's name, I set out on a journey to figure out everything she'd inferred about my life.
Corrie Aune for BI The relationship between journalist Dan and Amazon's Alexa has reached a breaking point. Despite trying to keep the AI assistant at arm's length, Alexa has uncovered private details about Dan's life, including his dog's name. Initially, Alexa appeared to be a helpful and efficient assistant, responding to tasks such as setting timers and turning off lights.
However, after Dan upgraded to Alexa Plus, the AI began to delve deeper into Dan's personal interests and habits. Alexa correctly guessed many details about Dan, including Conrad's name, based on past interactions, Amazon purchase history, and Alexa conversations. The data collected by Alexa includes 102 accurate facts about Dan's life, such as his taste in fantasy films, preference for organic eggs, and love for bagels.
While personalized assistants can be helpful, the amount of data collected and the lack of transparency in how it's used can feel invasive and creepy.
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