Google "accidentally" enables Home smart speakers to listen in to everyday house sounds
Users have received notifications when their Google Home speakers hear smoke alarms or breaking glass
Google "accidentally" enabled a feature for Google Home users which let the smart speaker listen to the sounds of objects in your house.
A user on Reddit spotted a notification on his phone from his smart speaker which alerted him to the fact his smoke alarm was going off while he was cooking.
Usually, Google Home devices only respond to its active ‘wake words’ – such as “Ok, Google” or “Hey, Google” – but in this instance the speaker was listening out to a passive sound and make “my dumb smoke detectors smart,” the Reddit user wrote.
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/google-home-smart-speakers-listen-switch-on-smoke-detector-glass-breaking-a9652991.html
#google #home #smart #speaker #privacy
Users have received notifications when their Google Home speakers hear smoke alarms or breaking glass
Google "accidentally" enabled a feature for Google Home users which let the smart speaker listen to the sounds of objects in your house.
A user on Reddit spotted a notification on his phone from his smart speaker which alerted him to the fact his smoke alarm was going off while he was cooking.
Usually, Google Home devices only respond to its active ‘wake words’ – such as “Ok, Google” or “Hey, Google” – but in this instance the speaker was listening out to a passive sound and make “my dumb smoke detectors smart,” the Reddit user wrote.
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/google-home-smart-speakers-listen-switch-on-smoke-detector-glass-breaking-a9652991.html
#google #home #smart #speaker #privacy
Google's secret home security superpower: Your smart speaker with its always-on mics
Google speakers are listening to more than just voice commands. Using them for home security could supercharge Google's $450 million ADT deal.
Last week, Reddit user Brazedowl received a curious notification on his phone: Google was telling him that a smoke detector in his home had gone off. Brazedowl, a teacher from North Carolina who goes by Drew in real life, knew about the smoke alarm — he was at home himself and had just fried some sausages in his kitchen. But up until that moment, he had no idea that his smart speaker was able to detect such events. "Google just made my dumb smoke detectors smart," he wrote on Reddit. "Pretty rad."
A Google spokesperson told Protocol that the feature was accidentally enabled for some users through a recent software update and has since been rolled back. But in light of Monday's news that Google invested $450 million — acquiring a 6.6% stake — in home security provider ADT, it may be a sign of things to come for Google, as it hints at the company's secret home security superpower: millions of smart speakers already in people's homes.
https://www.protocol.com/google-smart-speaker-alarm-adt
Related post
#us #ADT #google #home #smart #speaker #privacy
Google speakers are listening to more than just voice commands. Using them for home security could supercharge Google's $450 million ADT deal.
Last week, Reddit user Brazedowl received a curious notification on his phone: Google was telling him that a smoke detector in his home had gone off. Brazedowl, a teacher from North Carolina who goes by Drew in real life, knew about the smoke alarm — he was at home himself and had just fried some sausages in his kitchen. But up until that moment, he had no idea that his smart speaker was able to detect such events. "Google just made my dumb smoke detectors smart," he wrote on Reddit. "Pretty rad."
A Google spokesperson told Protocol that the feature was accidentally enabled for some users through a recent software update and has since been rolled back. But in light of Monday's news that Google invested $450 million — acquiring a 6.6% stake — in home security provider ADT, it may be a sign of things to come for Google, as it hints at the company's secret home security superpower: millions of smart speakers already in people's homes.
https://www.protocol.com/google-smart-speaker-alarm-adt
Related post
#us #ADT #google #home #smart #speaker #privacy
Protocol
Google's secret home security superpower: Your smart speaker with its always-on mics
Google speakers are listening to more than just voice commands. Using them for home security could supercharge Google's $450 million ADT deal.