Google Duplex

[Tabs]

Google Assistant is about to be even creepier and awesome at the same time in the near future.

And to fit this into the theme of personal finance, this should be a free and available to anyone with Android phones.

[GoodSteward]

I don't like this much integration into our lives. It's becoming a 1984 world for real.

[kork13]

I think the technology is kinda cool. I'm probably less concerned with my privacy than many others though....I basically presume that I'm watched/listened to/recorded pretty much all the time anyway, so I've accepted it and l welcome our new AI overlords with open arms.

Seriously though, I don't see significant harm in these technologies... They aren't developed with nefarious intentions, and besides using the data for automated advertising (which I ignore/block anyway), the data feeding into these systems aren't monitored or readily accessible. Yes, the system could theoretically be recording your every movement & spoken word. But there's not someone on the other end who is targeting you, scooping up all of that data to know exactly how to destroy your life. I'm boring, and don't merit that kind of attention. I'd bet that 98% of you are all just as boring.

But then, as I said, I'm probably exactly the kind of person that our new bot overlords need in order to convince the rest of us lowly humans that we're better off accepting their omnicience. So take it for what you will.

[GoodSteward]

I think the technology is kinda cool. I'm probably less concerned with my privacy than many others though....I basically presume that I'm watched/listened to/recorded pretty much all the time anyway, so I've accepted it and l welcome our new AI overlords with open arms.

Seriously though, I don't see significant harm in these technologies... They aren't developed with nefarious intentions, and besides using the data for automated advertising (which I ignore/block anyway), the data feeding into these systems aren't monitored or readily accessible. Yes, the system could theoretically be recording your every movement & spoken word. But there's not someone on the other end who is targeting you, scooping up all of that data to know exactly how to destroy your life. I'm boring, and don't merit that kind of attention. I'd bet that 98% of you are all just as boring.

But then, as I said, I'm probably exactly the kind of person that our new bot overlords need in order to convince the rest of us lowly humans that we're better off accepting their omnicience. So take it for what you will.

A lot of things are developed with good intentions, but bad people will find ways to use them in bad ways. Didn't you watch Black Panther?

[msomnipotent]

Google Assistant is about to be even creepier and awesome at the same time in the near future.

And to fit this into the theme of personal finance, this should be a free and available to anyone with Android phones.

There is no such thing as free. I wonder what kind of personal info on us they are selling to pay for this. I would go ballistic if I am sitting in a salon chair trying to have my me time and an ad for shampoo pops up on my phone.

I really almost sold my car when I canceled the free Sirius service and then ads started popping up on the "multimedia system" while I was driving. I first noticed this when I was a few blocks away from a Wendy's, and suddenly my screen is telling me about how great a Wendy's hamburger would be. Not only do I fully expect my privacy when I am minding my own business in my car and did not agree to ads, but what moron thought that ads while driving was a great safety idea? It would be the same thing with my phone. I don't want the distraction but I still need to keep my phone on because I'm using it.

[Smallsteps]

I first noticed this when I was a few blocks away from a Wendy's, and suddenly my screen is telling me about how great a Wendy's hamburger would be.

They must be getting a payoff for that type of intrusion but I wonder how many sheeple are seeing an ad and pulling into a Wendy's or what ever. Do they track a connection that the ad popped up then by following your phone or FB you stopped thus showing the ad worked and charging the business for each match? or just a blanket ad price regardless it you pulled in? I suppose when the robot cars are all in the road you WILL pull in regardless BECAUSE the AI said so.
I do not need or want the added ads or suggestions in my life from my car or phone or anything else. I would Never put an Alexa or whatever in my home. What are so many people doing with all the time they SAVE by having these devices write a list or answer some trivia question??
I understand how often we are monitored anyway but why pay for them to do it to you.
It is easy to corrupt the data so I don't see how beneficial it is to companies either.
In example store loyalty cards....... I use to work as a cashier and we were suppose to push that card on everyone but often for those who did not want to sign up. Another person in line would want us to scan their card for the points towards fuel savings. I always smiled knowing that as they collected points the DATA they were compiling to KNOW their CUSTOMER was just skewed.
One day a lady let her grandma scan her card while buying adult diapers and denture adhesive and then the guy behind her buying a couple cases of beer and cigarettes scanned her card too. Her order was baby formula and organic baby food could just see the ads in her future of the coupons that spit out based on her shopping trip.
Cashiers just so we were not "coached" on how important EVERYONE having a card was............ just scanned the cards waiting for sign ups. So when someone signed up who knows how many items were already linked as purchases since we just scanned it before we handed out as a NEW card.

[disneysteve]

I really almost sold my car when I canceled the free Sirius service and then ads started popping up on the "multimedia system" while I was driving.

What was the outcome of that? Was there a way to stop it from happening? We both have older cars so we don't have dashboard screens but there's no way I would be okay with that happening.

[msomnipotent]

What was the outcome of that? Was there a way to stop it from happening? We both have older cars so we don't have dashboard screens but there's no way I would be okay with that happening.

Just like everything else, the dealership blamed it on something else. They were trying to tell me that Sirius somehow screwed it up. As if Sirius has some nefarious scheme to get people to continue with their subscriptions by somehow taking control of the infotainment center and sending ads until you sign up with them again.